Previously on 'The Redemption'... Tom apologises, Cho decides to go to the Christmas ball with Henry and then comes to a conclusion that even though she doesn't trust Riddle, she would rather try to fix that problem than run away from it.

Chapter 12- A Fresh Start

Tom extinguished the lights in his room, about to make his way towards his bed when he heard an incessant tapping at the window. Irritable, and feeling oddly drained from the day, Tom made his way towards the window and opened it to allow a blast of freezing air and a ruffled looking barn owl through.

The owl perched itself on the side of his desk, giving him a baleful look while hooting softly. Tom absently patted the downy feathers on its head as he used his other hand to free the small scroll attached to his leg. As soon as he had released the message, the owl took off through the window and towards the Forbidden Forest, presumably to hunt for the night.

Making his way back to his bed, Tom drew the thick covers up to his waist before unfurling the small scroll that showed neat slanted script that held some degree of familiarity.

"Thank you for returning my books.

Cho Chang"

Tom's thin lips pulled up into a slight smirk as he read the note, noticing that she didn't at all respond to what he had sent. It was obvious that she didn't buy his pretty words and Tom found that he didn't mind. It was clear that she wasn't going to tell anyone and he found her behaviour surprising. She didn't fall for his charms or his apologies yet didn't cause any conflict by rejecting it either.

Unlocking his trunk and pulling out his leather bound diary, Tom slipped the piece of parchment inside one of the blank pages before locking it once more. Lying back against his pillow, Tom stared up at the ceiling while wondering about the strange oriental girl.


It was Saturday afternoon when Cho finally got to speak to Arlene without any interruptions. Sarah and Lucinda had left to go to meet up with some Gryffindor friends, leaving Arlene half napping in their dormitory and Cho nervously wringing her hands. When she had agreed to go to the ball with Henry, it seemed like a solid plan. However, upon reflection, she realised how badly this could end if Arlene did become upset with her. Arlene was one of her closest friends during this time – would she see it as a betrayal?

Cho sighed, so much for being courageous and 'living life' as she had declared to herself last night. It was much harder said than done when considering other things – like people's feelings for instance.

"What is wrong with you Chang? You've been off for days" said a voice, sounding alarmingly awake. Cho turned around, discovering that Arlene was not napping at all but looking rather alert and reading a fresh copy of "Witch Weekly".

Biting the bullet, Cho turned towards her friend and attempted to sound casual "You know the Christmas Ball right?"

Arlene gave her an odd look but nodded "Yes? What about it?"

"Well, someone asked me and I don't know if it's alright with you-"

"Henry asked you" she said lightly, her eyes not leaving the article she was reading "He told me. Don't worry; I don't have a problem with it"

Cho let go of the breath she hadn't known she was holding "Oh, that's a relief. Are you sure though?"

"Yes, I'm sure" she said, sounding like she actually meant it "But you are starting to sound like my mother"

Cho laughed, relieved "My friends use to say that too"

Arlene cocked a brow, putting down her magazine for a moment "I thought you were privately tutored?"

Cho floundered for a split second "I was. But I still had family friends and such"

Arlene seemed to accept her answer though there was a bit of suspicion in her tone "I see"

Cho sat down on her desk chair and decided to ask Arlene something that had been plaguing her for a while now "Umm.. Arlene, could I ask you something?"

Arlene finally put down her magazine and turned her attention towards Cho who looked strangely nervous "You can ask me anything as long as it doesn't take you a week to get to the actual question"

Cho gave her a tiny smile before continuing "I heard Madam Hunt talk about an incident that happened last year. Apparently a girl was… implicated?"

Arlene laughed, the sound short and sharp in the quiet of the room "By implicated, I think you mean murdered" she said bluntly before sitting up in her bed, her red hair falling out of its braid "Let me guess, you want to know all the juicy details on the gruesome death of the girl and just who that nasty criminal was?"

Cho blushed; pink flaming her cheeks "Something like that"

Arlene got into story telling mode, crossing her legs and beckoning Cho to join her "Well, as you know, it all happened last year. But first, you have to know the legend behind it"

"Legend?" asked Cho, mystified as to where this was heading.

Arlene nodded before continuing "Yes. As you may know, there were four founders of Hogwarts-"

"Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin" recited Cho, remembering the founders' names from 'Hogwarts- A History' "What about it?"

"Well, they all got along and were all well and dandy except for one-"

"Let me guess, Salazar Slytherin?" said Cho, remembering the painted potrait of his rather sour disposition.

"Correct. Now Slytherin wanted to be more selective about the students allowed in his house. He believed that magic should stay in the older wizarding families or those with pure blood. The others didn't deserve to have magic and wield it."

Cho felt chills up her spine at Arlene's ominous words, why did this story sound so familiar?

"And so it was said that in order to purge the school of those undeserving, he built a secret chamber beneath Hogwarts and unleashed a monster to do his work when his heir came to Hogwarts. It was called the Chamber-"

"Of Secrets" breathed Cho, her face paling in remembrance from her 3rd year at Hogwarts. She remembered how the muggleborns were petrified and the frightening words painted in blood on the stone walls. It was the work of He Who Must Not Be Named, possessing the young naive mind and body of Ginny Weasley and not Hagrid who had been framed during her time and now.

To confirm her question, Cho asked and was surprised to find her voice only shook a little bit "Did they ever catch the culprit?"

Arlene frowned at this, her brow creasing "They did actually. It was a half giant boy named Hagrid. He was so gentle; I never thought he would do something like that"

So it was true. Hagrid had been framed now and in the future of terrible things he had not done. While Harry did not tell her of the happenings during his second year down in the Chamber, he did tell her that the young He Who Must Not Be Named had trapped his memory into the diary. If this incident had only just happened last year, the implications were clear to Cho – A young You Know Who could be wandering around these very halls and no one had any idea just who he would grow up to be.


Tom was looking forward to Ancient Runes today and he couldn't even deny that the reason was his project partner. He wondered if she would avoid him like she always did or whether something had changed during the three days they had not properly seen each other. Tom saw Cho fleetingly during meal times but she was always surrounded by friends and that Pollux boy that he held little regard for. She looked more tired than usual, purplish circles marring her perfect cream coloured complexion. He also noticed that she seemed quite preoccupied, something that her friends also noticed with scowls upon their faces when they realised she wasn't listening to their silly stories.

"Hello"

Tom turned away from his musings and towards the muse herself "Hello, Miss Chang"

She gave a little smile in response though it did little to ease her troubled expression. She sat down and began unpacking her bags and organising her desk, giving Tom some time to scrutinise her a little further. Despite what he had predicted, she looked a bit more relaxed today beside him, slouching slightly in her seat as opposed to her rigid posture that always leaned a little away from him. Her fatigue was heightened by the frown on her face as she fiddled with her quill. Tom wasn't sure what drove him to ask, or even why he cared but before he knew it, he had already spoke.

"Is there something wrong?"

The soft cadence of his velvet voice interrupted Cho's thoughts and she turned to him with as much composure as she could "It's nothing really, but thank you for asking"

Tom didn't believe her but he pressed on anyway "Does it make you uncomfortable to be in my presence?"

Her eyebrows rose up in disbelief at the bluntness of his question "I would be lying if I said no" she replied honestly, feeling his eyes on the side of her face as she examined the slightly uneven texture of her parchment.

"But that's not a yes either" he replied quickly, his tone low and persuasive.

Cho gave a jerk of her head, forcing herself to meet his deep blue eyes "I think it would be best if we didn't mention that night again"

He looked steadily into her dark brown eyes, a flicker of emotion simmering within them "If that is what you want. Do you propose that we start afresh?"

Cho gave him a wooden smile that felt false even to her "Sure that would be lovely" she responded politely. It seemed that the Head Boy was back to his carefully controlled persona, acting like the perfect gentlemen. While he didn't fool Cho, it wouldn't hurt to be civil to him while she was investigating. "By the way, would you like to meet at the library after dinner for our Runes project? I found some information that might be of use"

He twirled his wand with his long pale fingers, a habit that Cho had noticed several times now "In those books you borrowed the other night?" he asked in a questioning tone, referring to the time travel ones Madam Hunt had lent from the restricted section.

Cho nodded, her expression innocent "Yes, I found something from those"

Turning those piercing eyes away from her, he gave a small noise of affirmation "Very well, does 8:30 sound fine? Or does it clash with your Quidditch schedule?"

Cho didn't miss the sarcasm in his voice but chose to dismiss it for the sake of courtesy "That will be fine"

Tom was about to reply but the Professor chose to sweep in at that moment, speaking rapidly to them about their work for the day and giving Tom little time to speak to her again. Flipping open his textbook soundlessly, he perused the pages assigned while determinedly not looking towards his right for the rest of the lesson.