Y/N trudged back up the stairs towards the Gryffindor common room. It was 6:10am and he was exhausted. He had been in the library all night, researching magical snakes.

He had arrived just before curfew. When Madam Pince had approached him and told him it was time to leave for the night he had replied he needed to work and could she please leave the lights on.

She thought better of arguing with him, given the look on his face and the way he had been conducting himself lately, and she went straight to her office, sending a flying note straight to Professor McGonagall.

McGonagall and the Headmaster arrived ten minutes later and along with Madam Pince, approached the desk Y/N had set himself up at cautiously.

"Y/N, it is time for curfew, you need to-"

The Headmaster was cut off abruptly:

"Harry's a Parseltongue, Headmaster. Whatever the monster is, it's a Magical Snake, that's why we could both hear it. I need to try and figure out what the fuck I'm up against."

Albus turned to Madam Pince and said simply:

"Irma, please leave the lights on and lock the door behind you."

-~-

Irma Pince had returned to the Library at 6:00am, and was shocked to see Professor Snape already waiting for her.

"Professor, what can I do for you?" Madam Pince asked in surprise.

"Just stopped in with a Wideye Potion for Y/N, Irma" the Potions Master said in his usual tone.

"Yes, young Mr. L/N was his usual charming self last night" Irma tutted as she unlocked the door.

"My Godson is under a lot of stress at the moment Irma, perhaps you can cut him some slack."

Pince's mouth opened in shock at Severus's words as he quickly walked passed her into the now open library and towards his godson.

"Thought you could use this" he smiled as he placed the Potion bottle on the desk. Y/N looked up to Severus with a tired smile and replied:

"Thanks Sev."

-~-

Y/N arrived at the Gryffindor common room to see the room empty. He sat down on the couch and downed the potion quickly, before leaning back and closing his eyes, waiting for the magical brew to take effect. He was sat for a few moments before he felt someone sit next to him and wrap their arms around his arm, leaning their head on his shoulder. He smiled without opening his eyes.

"Typical of you, Y/N L/N. I sit out here for an hour and you come back just when I go to the bathroom. You didn't get any sleep did you?"

Hermione's voice was laced with concern, all Y/N could hear though was the voice of an angel.

"No sweet I didn't. Sev dropped off a Wideye Potion for me though."

Y/N opened his eye and smiled, he looked down to see Hermione's eyes full of concern.

"I'll be alright once the potion kicks in love" Y/N spoke calmly, attempting to sooth Hermione's worry. She sighed and nodded, asking:

"Did you have any luck?"

"Nothing. No luck at all" Y/N growled in frustration. Hermione was shocked as she asked in confusion:

"So you couldn't find any magical snakes?"

Y/N sighed again, rubbing his eyes with his free hand:

"Oh no quite the opposite. There are dozens. Ashwinders, Boomslangs, Basilisks, Runespoors, Hydras, Nagas, Gorgons, Lamiurs, Rainbow serpents, Horned Serpents, Sea Serpents, Jormungandr, Ouroboros- the list goes on. But none match what we have."

Y/N sighed in frustration again:

"The closest I could find was the Basilisk, which kills you if look at it and the Gorgon which turns you to stone, but neither match up with what is happening here. Maybe a hybrid? But how could a snake that large get around a school unnoticed?"

Y/N rubbed his eyes again, the lack of sleep really taking its toll.

"How about you skip your workout today? Just today, for me, please?" Hermione asked Y/N pleadingly. He looked down into her eyes and sighed with a nod.

"Alright, just this once. Let's go get breakfast though I'm starving."

Hermione nodded over the moon, hugging Y/N and kissing him on the cheek happily.

The two began walking to the Great Hall, Y/N unsheathing his wand and muttering:

"For protection."

As the pair walked Hermione interlocked their fingers with a giggle, replying:

"For protection."

-~-

After breakfast Y/N, Hermione and their three friends exited the Great Hall and walked towards the front door of the castle. They were stopped by a bite placed on the giant wooden doors- the day's outdoor classes had been cancelled as the blizzard had intensified.

The five friends headed to the library, much to Ron's disgust, and the five of them sat at a desk. Lavender, Hermione and Y/N were in one row; Harry and Ron sat across from them. Ginny had a free period and so she joined the group, sitting shyly next to Harry. Y/N smiled looking towards his Godsister:

"I'm really sorry Ginny it's been a really difficult start to the year, I haven't seen you much. How has Hogwarts been so far for you?"

She looked down into her book and replied sadly:

"It's been ok."

Y/N and Hermione glanced at each other concerned before Y/N replied:

"Hey is something wrong Ginny? Is someone giving you a hard time? I'm your big bro you can tell me anything."

Y/N noticed Ron scowl at him out of the corner of his eye but ignored it as he went into protective papa-duck mode. If someone was hassling his little Gin-Gin it would be the last thing they ever did.

She looked up at Y/N and looked like she was about to start crying. Harry rubbed her back supportively. Y/N spoke calmly, masking the rage that was building inside him:

"It's ok Gin-Gin, you can tell me anything."

Ginny nodded as tears began falling down her cheeks.

"It's about the Chamber of Secrets, Y/N."

A flash of fear crossed the young red haired girl's face as she saw the look of darkness grow on her Godbrother's.

"Hey Gin you don't need to worry about that. Whoever the sick fuck is that has done this, I'll find em and I'll end em, slowly. You don't need to worry about that".

Ginny got up suddenly and ran, a million miles an hour, out of the library. Y/N stood saying loudly "Gin Wait" before Ron spoke up grumpily:

"Best to leave her when she is like this Y/N. Trust me, I'm her real brother so I know."

Y/N looked in the direction Ginny ran off in before looking down at Hermione who smiled and rubbed his hand. He sighed and sat back down, returning to the book he was reading, Magical Snakes and How to Tame Them.

Ten minutes passed and Beatrice and Cedric walked up to the group, hand in hand.

"Hey Y/N" Beatrice said with a nervous smile. Y/N nodded to her as he and Cedric fist bumped.

Y/N and Beatrice hadn't really spoken since the who Katie fiasco. They had grown really close over the previous year, prior to their falling out. They had missed each other.

"So Penny said you weren't going home for Christmas?" she asked.

"No. Hermione has to stay so I stay. I've been trying to protect her all year and I'm not stopping now" Y/N replied matter of factory.

"I know you have Y/N. I know. I'm sorry for how things have been and I'd really like if things could go back to how they were. Could we hang out, the four of us..."

She held up her and Cedric's interlocked hands.

"...When we get back next term?"

Y/N looked at Hermione who was grinning widely. He turned back to Beatrice with his trademark cocky smirk:

"Yeah, I'd like that Bea. I'd like that a lot."

She quickly leant in for a tight hug that Y/N returned. Beatrice sobbed a little as she heard in her mind:

I love you, Bea.

Beatrice thought back:

I love you too, Y/N. I'm so sorry.

The two Hufflepuffs happily left the library as the Gryffindors got back to work. Hermione and Lavender noticed all the staring that was coming towards their desk from the other students in the library. It was all directed at Harry. It wasn't long before Harry noticed. He looked back at Hermione who smiled at him awkwardly:

She nudged Y/N who looked up, just as a lot of students looked downwards as Harry glared around the room. Y/N spoke up loudly:

"You know, if Harry is the heir of Slytherin, I really wouldn't want to stare at him and you know, piss him off!"

The majority all looked at their toes and Y/N chuckled "Dumbarses" loudly.

"Really Y/N?" Lavender asked.

"Thanks Y/N. I really hate them staring".
Harry answered as he began packing his gear. Y/N smiled:

"Remember what I taught you Harry. We are...."

"We are lions. And lions don't concern themselves with the bleating of sheep" Harry responded with a smile. Y/N nodded:

"That's right Harry. Try to block them out."

Harry smiled but turned to see more people looking. He got up in frustration and stormed out. Y/N began with to stand but Hermione gently took his arm, whispering:

"Just give him some space."

Y/N sighed and nodded, sitting back down.

-~-

Harry was walking through the halls, heading towards the Gryffindor common room, grumbling to himself when he turned a corner and gasped.

Nearly Headless Nick and Lady Fraser were floating aimlessly, non responsive. On the floor behind them, staring up lifelessly, was Justin Finch-Fletchley. He too had been petrified. Harry gulped.

-~-

Y/N and Hermione had long since finished their Herbology assignments as the double lesson came to a close. They were packing their gear and about to head to morning tea when Professor Flitwick suddenly burst in the library doors, panicky and out of breath:

"All students need to return to their common rooms immediately. Classes cancelled for the rest of today. There's been another attack!"