Y/N sat as he always did, staring at Hermione's expressionless face. He looked like all hope had been sucked from him, like a man who had given up on life. He now had a small stubbly beard from not shaving for weeks, one far more advanced than most boys his age. The bags under his eyes were apparent as were the tear marks that looked to be permanently stained on his face. He had been, in essence, completely broken.

He couldn't remember the last time he ate- Severus brought food each day. Sometimes he ate, sometimes he didn't. His sleep was broken, he would lose consciousness eventually and then wake up, each time nothing had changed, Hermione was still the same.

Madam Pomfrey had tried to make him leave at one point for his own welfare, to get some fresh air and to breathe. She had quickly given in and left him alone though when a stunning spell flew passed her ear. She realised this was a warning. The next wouldn't miss.

—~—

Harry entered the hospital wing alone- Lavender couldn't bear to go back in and Ron waited with her. Madam Pomfrey smiled at him and waved him over, warning him to be careful when approaching the teenager next to their petrified friend. Harry approached his best friend cautiously.

"Y/N, we think we've found the entrance. Lockhart is going down to the chamber and we are going to go with him, Ron, Lav and I. The heir took Ginny, left a message saying her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever. We're going to try and rescue her. But we can't do this without you. We need your help. I need your help. Please, Y/N..."

Y/N's gaze didn't leave Hermione but after a few moments he spoke in a croaky voice, one that hadn't been used for weeks:

"Let me say goodbye."

Harry nodded and he went to wait outside the infirmary, signalling Ron and Lavender to wait.

Y/N looked down at Hermione. He felt his eyes watering again. He was sure he wasn't going to make it out of the chamber. He didn't deserve to make it out. He had one job, to keep her safe, and he failed. He wouldn't fail Ginny like he failed Hermione, even if it cost his life. 

Y/N leant down to kiss Hermione's cheek and he spoke to her:

"Hermione my love. There's so much I should have said. I was too cowardly to tell you how I felt. I focused too much on protecting you when I should have focused on loving you. I should have told you how much I didn't deserve you. That you are the greatest thing to ever happen to me. My best friend. My soul mate... and I failed you. Because of me you were petrified. I promised to protect you and I failed. I failed you."

Y/N sobbed and cupped his eyes, the words caught in his throat.

"I'm going now. I'm going to end this once and for all. I'm gonna kill this fucker... or die trying. But if I don't make it back I just want you to know..."

Y/N paused, he should have told her this ages ago:

"...I love you Hermione. I love you with everything I am. I have since the moment I first met you. I just wish I told you sooner."

Y/N leant down to kiss Hermione's cheek again before holding her frozen hand. As he pulled it away he brushed against something sticking out of her pocket. It looked like a piece of parchment. How did he miss this before? Something in his gut told him this was important, so he carefully removed it, unfolding it to read three words:

Basilisk... roosters... pipes.

"Hermione of course you figured it out, my angel."

Y/N chuckled before returning the parchment and leaning down to kiss her cheek once more. He turned and wiped his eyes, leaving the cubicle and then the infirmary with a returned fire in his gut. Harry smiled at the look of determination on Y/N's face as he exited the hospital wing. It was like the old resolute Y/N had returned.

"So you're back?" Harry asked with a smile.

Y/N looked at Harry, a stone cold glare on his face as he answered:

"Yeah, I'm thinking I'm back."

Harry and Lavender smiled and Ron asked:

"So you're coming with us then?"

The three had to run to catch up as Y/N stormed towards the DADA classroom. Y/N replied coldly:

"Time to kill a snake and an heir, or die trying. But let's get one thing straight, I'm not coming with you. You're coming with me."

—~—

The group arrived at Lockhart's office and three of them were extremely surprised to find the Professor crying, wrapped up in a ball in the corner.

"Professor what's wrong?" Lavender asked full of shock and concern.

"I want to run. I can't do this. I'm a fraud... a total fraud... but I can't run away or I'll die.. because of... him!"

Lockhart pointed at Y/N with hatred as the three students looked between the two in shock. Y/N grinned:

"That's why you don't make Unbreakable Vows, dipshit."

Ron and Lavender were shocked. Harry was confused.

"You're a fraud" Lavender nearly cried.

"You knew he was a fraud the whole time?" Ron asked impressed.

"What's an unbreakable vow?" Harry asked in his confusion.

"Just that Harry. You swear to something and you uphold it or ckkk" Y/N made a noise and slid his finger across his throat. Harry knew what he meant. Y/N lifted his hand to show the others and spoke:

"That's what these scars you asked me about are from, Harry. An Unbreakable Vow."

Y/N turned to Lockhart with a cold smirk on his face as he spoke calmly:

"C'mon Lockhart uphold your duty. We are going to kill a Basilisk. Or stay here and die. I honestly don't care either way."

Y/N turned and walked towards Myrtle's bathroom, the rest followed.

—~—

The group arrived at Myrtle's bathroom, Y/N asked Harry to say something in Parseltongue. The sinkstand moved backwards- revealing a large hole that opened to Merlin knows where.

Y/N grabbed Lockhart by his collar and without a word shoved him down into the abyss. Lockhart shrieked and moaned before landing with a thud. After 20 seconds they heard him call out:

"It's very dirty down here."

Y/N turned to Lavender and spoke with a pained tone of voice:

"Lav, go tell McGonagall where we've gone and what we are doing. Then go keep watch over Hermione for me. Please?"

Lavender nodded and hugged Y/N, tears leaking out of her eyes as she sobbed in the embrace. Y/N hugged her back, whispering in her ear:

"If I don't make it back, tell her for me Lav. Please. Tell her I love her. That I always have."

Lavender shook her head as they separated. She wiped her eyes and said:

"I will but I won't have to. You'll make it back, Y/N."

She ran out of the room quickly, following the hug, not wanting the other two to see her cry. Y/N walked up to the edge of the opening and looked down, saying to the other two:

"See you on the other side, boys!"

He jumped down. Y/N landed with a thud, but on his feet as he grinned at Lockhart, who looked at Y/N with hatred.

Y/N looked around what looked like an ancient cave system. It spread out for hundreds of feet and was littered with bones. 

Y/N looked over at a huge snake skin which was well in excess of 60 feet in length. He noticed in his peripheral Lockhart's wand was out, and pointing towards Y/N. He held out his hand to the side, summoning Lockhart's wand with such force it nearly pulled the fraud off his feet.

"Hope you weren't planning anything suicidal with my wand, Gilderoy" Y/N spoke in an ice cold tone that matched the glare in his eyes as he placed Lockhart's wand in his pouch.

The stare off was ended by Harry and Ron arriving with a thump- Harry rolling to a stop near Y/N, Ron doing the same near Lockhart.

Y/N took his eyes off Lockhart momentarily as he extended his hand to help Harry up to his feet. Gilderoy saw an opportunity and seized it- grasping Ron's wand that fallen to the floor with the redhead boy. The fraud pointed it at Y/N and laughed arrogantly:

"I may not be able to make a move against you, Y/N, but I can against your friends. This is for trying to embarrass me."

He pointed the wand at Harry. Harry gulped before noticing that Y/N was smiling...

Obliviate

Lockhart screamed as the spell backfired and he was thrown to the ceiling by Ron's misfiring wand, causing a mini cave in. When the boys had opened their eyes they saw their way back to the bathroom was now blocked under rubble. Ron was on one side with the unconscious Professor, Harry and Y/N were on the other.

"Try to clear a way through, Ron!" Y/N yelled out. "Me and Harry are going in to end this!"

Ron called out 'ok' and started moving debris.

Harry and Y/N turned approached the far end of the cavern where a stone door sat, covered in snake motifs.

"This is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, Harry. When we're in there I'll handle the Basilisk and the Heir, you get to Ginny and keep her safe."

Harry nodded and Y/N added:

"For the love of Merlin don't look the snake in the eyes. One glance and it will kill you stone dead!"

Harry gulped and asked:

"But Y/N, if it's a Basilisk, why is it no one is dead?"

Y/N stopped and thought. Suddenly a look appeared on his face like all the pieces had come together at once:

"Because no one did Harry. At least not directly. Mrs Norris must have seen its reflection in the water, Colin saw it through his camera, Justin through Nearly Headless Nick or Lady Fraser. Nick and Lady Fraser must have got the full blast but you can't die twice, and Hermione and Beatrice saw it in the mirror that Bane gave her."

Y/N's face suddenly dropped at his own mentioning of the girl he loved:

"I couldn't protect Hermione but Bane did. I will never be free of this debt to the centaurs. I owe them everything. If I don't survive Harry, promise me you will give my eternal gratitude to them. Promise me, Harry!"

Harry nodded and added:

"I promise but you will make it out of here Y/N!"

He turned to the door and whispered in Parseltongue:

Hasshahath Shee hahath

The door slowly opened, exposing the darkness inside...