Damnit, Weasley!

Chapter Fifty Six: The Chamber of Secrets P2

"I'm going down there." Harry said.

"Me too." I said in unison with Ron.

All three of us turned to Lockhart. "Well, you hardly seem to need me." He said. "I'll just-"

He went for the door, but me, Harry, and Ron pointed our wands at him. "You can go first." Ron snarled at him.

Lockhart nervously approached the giant pipe opening. "Kids, what good will it do?" He asked in a shaky voice. Harry jabbed him in the back with his wand, forcing Lockhart to slide his legs into the pipe. "I really don't think-" he started, but Ron pushed him down and he slid out of sight.

"Nice one." I said, smiling slightly at Ron.

Harry lowered himself into the pipe and slid down. Me and Ron approached, really to follow him.

We slid down side by side. I was fighting the urge to puke, the pipe was covered in thick slime. The only thing getting me through was how fun the slide was, and that it would all be worth it in the end if Ginny was alive.

We twisted and turned downwards below the school. It seemed like hours until we finally landed in some stone tunnel. I saw Lockhart brushing up, looking pale and slimy.

"We must be miles under the school." Harry's voice echoed.

"Under the lake, probably." Said Ron.

Harry casted Lumos and we all started to follow him. "Remember, any sign of movement, close your eyes right away."

That's what really triggered my anxiety.

"What if we die down here?" I started. "Will anyone find us? I mean, did the Chamber reseal itself when we slid down?"

"If we survived last year, we'll be fine." Ron said, but I could feel my heart beating faster.

Merlin, I really didn't think this through. I didn't tell anyone what I was doing, so they won't know where I am.

Merlin, what was the last thing I even said to Draco? I don't even remember, probably not anything meaningful. Great, I don't even have cool last words. At least I got one last snog in.

And what about my friends? Caitlin, Scarlette, Pansy-hell, even Blaise and James! I don't remember what I last said to them, either. They'll probably be confused when I suddenly go missing.

I have my entire future ahead of me, and I could die tonight.

"Harry-there's something up there-" Ron said, snapping me out of my thoughts. We all froze as we eyed the weird shape ahead of us. It was huge and curved, it looked like-

"The Basilisk!" I squeaked, putting my hands over my eyes. Everyone quickly shushed me.

"I think it's asleep, so don't wake it up!" Ron hissed, but I kept my hands over my eyes.

He guided me forward, even though I really didn't wanna move. "Blimey, it's just the skin." He told me.

"Oh." I muttered, uncovering my eyes. He was right, but the skin was still disgusting. It was thick and green, crumpled on the stone floor.

I heard a thump and turned around. Lockhart had fainted.

"Get up." Ron snapped, his wand pointed at Lockhart.

He suddenly awoke, and dived at Ron, which knocked them both to the ground. "HEY!" I yelled, and me and Harry rushed forward.

Before we had time to do anything, he straightened himself up, holding Ron's broken wand. "The adventure ends here, kids!" He said, beaming. "I shall take a bit of this skin back up to the school, tell them I was too late to save the girl, and that you three tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body-say good-bye to your memories!"