The Christmas holidays passed by slowly. Mína was one of few first year students to stay behind over the break, and so she had her dormitory all to herself. However she chose to spend most of her time in the Chamber of Secrets. She had gotten into a solid routine by now, and each step came with ease: enter the bathroom, stun Myrtle, spend time in the chamber, obliviate Myrtle's memory, and return to the castle undetected. She enjoyed being in the chamber. It was somewhere she did not have to hide, where she was not followed by stares and whispers. A place where she belonged. A quiet place to study, or read, or just think. By now she knew the chamber well – she had explored all of its caverns and tunnels, and felt comfortable within its bleak stone walls. She would miss spending her days here when classes started back in January. But no doubt the return of her fellow students would make it near impossible to visit her chamber regularly; there would be far too many prying eyes. Teddy Lupin alone was overbearing enough.
On Christmas Day Mína sat alone in the chamber, silver locket clenched tightly in her dainty hand. She chose to skip dinner in the great hall, instead staying entombed deep in the belly of the castle. She silently wished that the great Basilisk had not been slain, as it could have provided her with an understanding ear and some familiar company.
