A month had passed since the attack on Colin Creevey. Most of the school had relaxed slightly as the imminent threat seemed to have passed. One student however, had not. Y/N continued to be on high alert, patrolling around Hermione every minute they were away from the common room.

He had been becoming more agitated and paranoid, more withdrawn from people outside of his immediate social circle, and more neglectful of his own needs. Hermione had taken to portioning and cutting up his food at meal times after several times he hadn't eaten. While every other student in the crowded noisy hall would be happily chatting and eating, Y/N sat next to Hermione, his eyes darting around the hall like a prowling lion, ready to hunt, ready to kill without a moment's pause.

Every night they would sleep in the Room of Requirement, simply so Hermione could keep an eye on him. Make sure he did actually sleep.

After the initial incident in the library at the start of the year, the door had locked itself with three locks when Y/N and Hermione entered. It was now customary at night for three large beams to materialise across the door in the evening, along with a dozen deadbolts. Hermione theorised the Room was picking up on Y/N's degrading mental state but she kept that thought to herself.

Y/N's visions had progressed in vividness to the point he was staring, in his sleep, at Hermione's cold dead eyes for hours while he was unconscious each night. Even Dreamless Sleep Potions weren't helping. They weren't dreams or nightmares, they were visions. He woke each morning looking more tired than when he had gone to sleep the prior evening. He seemed to be becoming more agitated by the day.

Y/N's assault on Edmund Murk has resulted in a lengthy punishment for both boys. After learning what happened, the Headmaster sat down with the heads of houses of both boys and it was decided they would both have weekly detentions with the opposite head of house on a Saturday morning- Y/N for attacking a student, again, and Murk for financially abusing fellow students.

Murk spent his Saturday mornings polishing silverware by hand with Professor McGonagall. Y/N and Hermione spent their Saturday mornings with Professor Snape.

-~-

The Polyjuice Potion was ready and Hermione had concocted a plan- McGonagall had taken names of the students who were remaining at Hogwarts over Christmas and only four Slytherins were- Crabb, Goyle, Malfoy and a girl names Millicent Bullstrode. The plan was for Ron to be Goyle, Harry to be Crabb and Hermione, Millicent.

Hermione had convinced Y/N she would be safe as Millicent as she was a pure blood, and it was important for Y/N to stand guard over Crabb and Goyle to keep them out the common room and made sure they weren't found while Harry and Ron were under their Polyjuice glamours. Truthfully, she was terrified that if Malfoy confessed to opening the Chamber of Secrets Y/N would slaughter him there and then. It was a fair concern.

The Weasleys had to stay over Christmas and Harry was never going to go to the Dursleys. Hermione had decided to stay to carry out the plan. This made Y/N's decision for him, much to Penny's disappointment. Lavender tried to stay but her parents forbade it.

-~-

It was now the Thursday night before the last day of classes for the term. A blizzard had broken out earlier in the day and it was setting in fiercely. The students were enjoying dinner in the Great Hall.

Hermione was over the moon. There had been posters advertising a duelling club at 8pm Thursday evening. Y/N was ecstatic. It was the first time in literally months she had seen him happy. It brought Hermione so much joy to see him like this.

"It's gotta be Flitwick running it" Y/N told Harry between bites of shepherds pie. "He used to be a champion dueller- do you think we will get the chance to duel him one on one? I'd give every galleon in my Vault for the chance to duel Flitwick."

Hermione giggled as Lavender rolled her eyes and the boys laughed- seeing him so relaxed and actually happy had made them all less tense.

"I thought you hated organised duelling?" Ron teased, remembering their conversation from the previous year.

"Normally I do, but a champion like Flitwick? You don't get chances like that everyday."

-~-

Y/N's mood could not have dropped any quicker. They entered the training room for the duelling club. He was hand in hand with Hermione as was usual. She didn't immediately see what he did but she heard his reaction.

"Oh you've gotta be fucking kidding me" Y/N snapped. There was Lockhart prancing around a group of first years impressing them with his bullshit. He gulped when he made eye contact with Y/N but was able to compose himself enough to continue dribbling shit. Hermione squeezed Y/N's hand. She could practically feel the hatred drip from him.

-~-

Lockhart got on stage and deliberately avoided Y/N's glare. All eyes were on the Professor apart from Hermione. She was nervously watching Y/,N worried about what he would do. She had never gripped his hand so tight. The prancing preening fool addressed the students- almost every student in the school had turned up.

"Professor Dumbledore has graciously allowed me to start this little duelling club to prepare you for the darkest of beast and man. Allow me to introduce you to my assistant Professor Snape, who will assist me with a little demonstration. But don't worry" Lockhart chuckled:

"You'll still have your Potions Master when I'm finished."

A lot of girls, including Lavender, swooned at Lockhart's attempt at humour. Snape started to walk towards the stage before stopping- a dark smile crossing his face as he looked over towards his godson.

-~-

Please Sev... I am begging you. Let me have him.

A dark grin crossed Snape's face as he turned towards his colleague:

"I'm afraid I am so intimidated by your... reputation... l'd rather not risk a duel Gilderoy. Perhaps you could demonstrate with a student?"

Lockhart almost giggled he was so over the moon. He couldn't believe his luck:

"Ah yes a fine idea Severus. You there, uh... Longbottom. Come up here!" Lockhart said with a smile as Neville whimpered. Snape chuckled:

"Actually Gilderoy... I was thinking perhaps Y/N L/N?"

Snape looked over at Y/N, a dark smile crossing the second years face. Excited whispers filled the hall, Y/N started to walk forward before being held back by the bushy haired girl still holding his hand.

"Don't hurt him!" She whisper shouted into Y/N's ear over the hummed whispers of excitement filling the hall.

Y/N chuckled and leant down, kissing Hermione on the cheek to a chorus of 'oohs' and wolf whistles as he whispered back to her:

"Spoilsport"

He walked up towards the stage, stopping as he reached the small staircase up. Severus placed a hand on his shoulder and he heard his Godfather in his mind:

Destroy him!

Y/N smirked and nodded before ascending the stairs. Ron chuckled to Harry:

"This should be good!"

Harry nodded and smiled in agreement.

-~-

Y/N walked up on stage towards his intimidated teacher. He stood, staring into Gilderoy's eyes as his wand descended into his hand.

"So how are we doing this Lockhart? Are we going to mess around with organised rules? Or are we going to demonstrate a proper fight, a shoot out, for these students?"

A hum of whispers broke out across the hall as Lockhart stammered in response:

"I...ah... uh... um think organised rules would be um...b-best."

Y/N's glare hardened as he looked behind him, erupting:

"What did I tell you, Professor Snape? He's a nonce, an absolute nonce!"

He turned back to his stunned Professor.

"I came up here for a proper shoot out with a proper man. Like Dumbledore against Grindelwald. Do you know anything about that?"

Before Gilderoy could reply Y/N had continued:

"No, cos you're too busy hiding away tossing off and writing fairy tales. A SHOOT OUT-"

Y/N had suddenly changed tone, exploding with ferocity, spittle flying from his mouth as his eyes darkened. Gilderoy jumped in shock and fear, as did 99% of the others in the hall:

"-IS A SHOOT OUT, like a death duel. You think 'the darkest of beast and man' go through this masterbation before trying to rip your throat out? Waste of my time, absolute waste of my fucking time!"

Y/N suddenly held his wand up in front of him, walked to the centre of the duelling platform and stood there.

"Well? You wanted rules. Hurry the fuck up!"

Lockhart fearfully walked forward, raising his wand and bowing. He looked surprised when Y/N didn't reciprocate the gesture. Y/N's lip curled, a dark sadistic smile crossing his lips as he stated:

"I'm not bowing to you Lockfart. Lions don't bow to sheep!"

More whispered hums spread across the hall as the two turned from each other and walked to their ends of the platform.

Y/N slowly pointed his wand towards Lockhart, the Professor doing the same in turn as he began to speak:

"Stu-"

He was quickly stuck with an invisible force which made him scream as he was thrown backwards in the air, landing hard on his back. Y/N smirked and began to address the stunned students:

"Verbal magic announces your intentions to your opponent. A seasoned enemy will be able to take you down quickly. You need to master non-verbal magic. For the duration of this duel I will use verbal magic, for your benefit, once the professor manages to stand that is."

He chuckled, aware of many of the filthy looks he received from many of the female students in the hall who were smitten with Lockhart before continuing:

"So when you are looking to disable an opponent quickly, stupify or flipendo is a good bet. You can also aim to disarm your opponent with Expelliarmus but if you-"

"Yes well an excellent idea to show them that Y/N but I have to say it was pretty obvious what you were about to do and if I wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy" Lockhart chuckled nervously as he desperately attempted to save face.

-~-

Hermione closed her eyes tight and squeezed the bridge of her nose. This idiot kept digging himself a deeper hole.

-~-

"Really?" Y/N chuckled. "Go on then. Stop me!"

Y/N death stared his Professor, Lockhart simply staring back at him, unable to move. Y/N entered his mind:

You fight me coward, or I will crucio you to insanity right here and then obliviate everyone in the fucking room to forget it! Now attack me you fucking coward!

Gilderoy's eyes widened in fear before he weakly cast:

Flipendo

Protego

Y/N's Magical shield easily stopped Lockhart's spell. He chuckled and addressed the gathered students:

"That students is your standard Protego shield. It will protect you from most spells although certain curses will still penetrate it. The unforgivables for instance".

Y/N released his shield.

"However if you are clearly stronger than your opponent in magical power you can always try this. Again Lockhart..."

Gilderoy looked at him apprehensively, Y/N roared:

"AGAIN!"

Lockhart cast another Flipendo; this time Y/N sliced his wand down through the air, cutting the approaching spell in two.

The gathered students and Lockhart looked on in stunned silence. Snape smirked to himself as Y/N addressed the crowd again:

"Again this is only possible when you clearly out power your opponent. If I tried that against say, Professor Snape, I would have been thrown hard against the wall behind me. But uh, when it comes to Lockfart over here, well I've cut down a lot worse, from a lot tougher. Now back to the duelling lesson, your best bet is to disarm your opponent quickly and cleanly:

Expelliarmus

Y/N cast a perfect disarming spell, Golderoy's wand flying across the platform into Y/N's left hand. He smirked as he caught it, twirling the wand in his long fingers:

"This, everybody, leaves your opponent weaponless. However, they could use wandless magic so you can always take their mouth."

The students look stunned as Y/N aimed his wand at Gilderoy:

Langlock

Gilderoy panicked as he couldn't remove his tongue from the roof of his mouth. Many students gasped.

"This leaves your opponent with only the option of using them non verbal and wandless magic. There are very few wizards who can and have mastered that. Two who have are in this room, Gilderoy though isn't one of them."

Y/N chuckled at his panicking and jumping opponent as Hermione watched from the crowd, hearing the whispers around her.

Wandless and non-verbal? Snape and who else? Was Y/N talking about himself?

She continued to look at him and caught the corner of his vision, she discreetly tapped her temple. Y/N immediately spoke to her:

What's wrong?

What are you doing? Everyone is whispering that you're talking about yourself!

Good. The Heir Of Slytherin is somewhere in this room. I want him to know exactly who he's fucking with.

Hermione felt Y/N's presence withdraw from her mind as he spoke again loudly:

"In the case of a weak opponent. Like him..." Y/N motioned to a Gilderoy who was now jumping around in a full scale panic

"...this leaves them at your mercy and you can take your time and enjoy it..."

Y/N released a torrent of jinx, hexes and curses on his helpless opponent/Professor:

Impedimenta

Rictusempra

Furnunculus

Melofors

Calvorio

Anteoculatio

Densaugeo

Egnis Victima

Y/N chuckled looking down at the writhing, disfigured, distorted, pathetic excuse of a wizard in front of him. He chuckled, saying menacingly:

"And finally, a hex of my own creation..."

Papilla Incrementum

Lockhart suddenly moaned and writhed in pain even more as his nipples ripped through his shirt and grew to an alarming three feet. Most students were either laughing hard at the quivering mess the fraud had been reduced to or were looking at Y/N full of fear. He spoke loudly, with a dark coolness to his voice:

"This is just a taste of what's possible. I was merely playing with this fool. The ones out there, that dangerous ones, people like him..."

Y/N motioned to the writhing puke in front of him.

"... people like most of you. You should run from danger as fast as you can. War is the domain of lions, not sheep, and I say this now, to the Heir of Slytherin. I know you're in this room. I will find you, and I will hurt you, and you will pray to Merlin for a release that will never co-"

Y/N was cut off by Snape placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked to his godfather and nodded, waving his wand over Lockhart and instantly releasing all of the jinxes and hexes. He stood in front of Snape, watching Lockhart slowly get to his feet, the room silent in fearful anticipation. When Lockhart stood and looked at Y/N with eyes full of shame, Y/N chuckled, tossing Gilderoy his wand back. He said loudly and clearly:

"Your wand just continues to recognise me as it owner, doesn't it Lockfart. One last thing for everyone here. A wise piece of advice Mad-Eye Moody gave me..."

Y/N smirked arrogantly:

"...Never, EVER, turn your back on someone you fear, or someone you respect!"

Y/N held his arms out to the side and slowly turned to face Snape. His back was fully exposed to Lockhart who stood with his wand in hand, Y/N daring the Professor to attack him. Y/N stood completely defenceless before chuckling loudly and adding dismissively:

"Yeah. That's what I thought"

Y/N jumped off the stage and walked to Hermione, students moving aside for him like the parting of the Red Sea.

"I told you not to hurt him" Hermione whispered, narrowing her eyes at her best friend. He snickered to her:

"What? There was no permanent damage, apart from to his reputation and ego".

She smiled and rolled her eyes before he wrapped an arm round her waist.

Severus walked up to Lockhart sneered at him.

"Perhaps it would be more prudent to have... less experienced students practice disarming each other?"

A very shaken DADA professor nodded:

"Oh ah yes-excellent idea Professor Snape. Let's have a volunteer pair- yes Weasley, Potter up you two come up here."

Harry and Ron started walking towards the stage but Snape spoke up again.

"Weasley's wand causes devastation at the simplest of spells. You'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a match box. Perhaps someone from my own house? Malfoy?"

Ron still hadn't replaced his wand that was snapped when he arrived with Harry in the car. It was now held together pitifully with spell-o-tape. Snape signalled to Draco who climbed up on stage across from Harry. The two walked onwards and met in the middle of the duelling platform.

"Scared Potter?" Draco asked in a mocking tone.

"You wish" Harry glared back at him.

"At the count of three cast your charms to disarm your opponent and only to disarm them. We don't want any accidents here." Gilderoy spoke in a tone suggesting he was still shaken:

"One... two...."

Everte Statum

Draco cast the spell while Lockhart was still counting, catching Harry off guard and sending him flying backwards through the air, landing hard on the platform behind him. The students from Slytherin house all chuckled. Harry got to his feet angrily as Lockhart yelled:

"I said disarm only"

Flipendo

Lockhart was ignored again as Harry sent Draco flying this time. The ferret face landed hard on his coccyx before being forced to his feet by an angry Snape. He quickly fired another spell at Harry, this time upping the ante:

Serpensortia

A thick, long black snake suddenly shot out of Draco's wand and landed on the platform. It slithered along hissing at the frightened students as Y/N, who was stood in the front row, pulled Hermione and Lavender behind him.

"Don't move Potter. I'll get rid of it for you". Snape sneered as he walked passed Draco.

"Allow me Professor Snape" Lockhart bounded forward like an exited but idiotic puppy.

Alarte Ascendare

All Lockhart's bizarre incantation did was throw the snake high in the air and piss it off. It landed hard and raised up, hissing and baring its fangs.

It turned and looked directly at Y/N and Justin Finch-Fletchley, who was now next to him. Y/N shifted his arm to guard Hermione even more, shifting her directly behind him and making sure he was in the line of fire. The snake looked like it was about to pounce. Suddenly a strange voice could be heard:

Assshha Seetha Shahh

Y/N, the snake, and everyone else in the hall looked over to Harry in shock. Harry appeared in a kind of trance as he spoke again:

Sheeaya Hathethhh Hassshhhyeeeah

The snake suddenly reared up more, seeming to look passed Y/N and focus on Justin.

Shattthh

The snake looked to Harry again as Snape snapped himself from his shock, pointing his wand at the snake:

Vipera Evanesca

The snake was quickly burnt up to ash and disappeared. Justin turned furious to Harry and yelled at him:

"What the hell do you think you're playing at?"

Harry looked at Justin extremely confused but before anything else could be said Y/N grabbed Harry roughly by the shoulder and pushed him by the stairs off the platform. Students parted as Y/N held a firm grip on Harry's robe hood, pushing him forward with his left hand as Y/N's wand descended in his right. It was pointed at the ground but it was a none-too-subtle hint for no one to try anything. Hermione, Lavender and Ron followed close behind.

As the five students got out the Great Hall Y/N continued holding and pushing, Harry yelled:

"Blimey Y/N, stop pushing me!"

"Shut up! Back to the Common Room, right fucking now!" Y/N snapped back.

Y/N didn't say another word to Harry the whole way back- keeping one hand on Harry and the other on his wand. He was agitated and kept looking behind to make sure Hermione was still behind him.

They finally arrived back in the common room and Y/N shoved Harry in the door as the others arrived behind them. Y/N roared:

"What the fuck, Harry? Keeping information like that from me? How am I supposed to protect you if you aren't fucking honest with me?"

Harry could tell Y/N was furious but had no idea why. Ron's gibberish didn't help:

"You're a Parselmouth? Why didn't you tell us?"

"I'm a what?" Harry asked Ron completely confused.

"You can talk to snakes" Hermione explained.

"I know" Harry replied. "I mean I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley one time".

"Again, you don't think this was fucking important information Harry?"

Y/N was beyond fucking ropable. Hermione grabbed his hands, dragged him over to the couch, shoved him down and quickly jumped onto his lap, pulling his arms around her waist and holding them there. Harry looked at Lavender and Ron baffled before adding:

"I mean I can talk to snakes? So what? I bet loads of people here can do it"

"No they can't Harry". Hermione replied, content she had calmed Y/N for the time being.

"It's not a very common gift. This is bad".

It was now Harry's turn to be frustrated.

"What's bad? If I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin then-"

"Oh that's what you said?" Ron ask, sounding relieved.

"You were there you heard me!" Harry answered.

"I heard you speaking Parseltongue. You know snake language!"

"I spoke a different language? Y/N you understood though right?" Harry asked worriedly. Y/N shook his head, still unable to release his hands from Hermione's vice like grip:

"No Harry, I speak to Magical Creatures not snakes. I just heard you hissing."

"How did I speak another language if I didn't know it?" Harry asked, still trying to absorb these revelations.

"I don't know Harry..." Hermione answered as she rubbed Y/N's arms for comfort

"... but it sounded like you were egging the snake on. Listen Harry- there's a reason the symbol of Slytherin house is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth"

"Now everyone's gonna think you're his great great grandson or something" Ron exclaimed.

"But I'm not. I can't be" Harry answered. He sounded like he was trying to convince himself as much as anyone else.

"It was a thousand years ago.. for all we know. You could be" Hermione answered honestly.

"Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck" Y/N suddenly started to panic, trying to get up from under Hermione.

"What's wrong sweet?" Hermione asked concerned with his sudden outburst.

"If we can both hear it.... it's a magical
Snake. There's a couple of species, but worst case if we are dealing with... I need to go to the library and pull an all nighter to figure this out."

Y/N suddenly had the strength to loosen Hermione's hold, sliding her gently to the couch.

"Please, please, please promise me you won't leave the common room 'Mione. Swear it to me!"

Y/N pleaded with her with both his words and with concerned eyes. Hermione rubbed his cheek and then smiled at him lovingly, answering with a nod:

"I promise."

"Thank you" Y/N replied in relief, hugging Hermione tightly and then kissing her cheek before he bolted out the common room door, knocking over a dozen returning students in the process of rushing to the library.

"You sure you're not going out yet? He sure looks at you like he would a girlfriend" Lavender giggled at Hermione, causing the bushy haired girl to blush profusely.