Once they arrived at Dumbledore's office, Sylvia rushed off to her own dormitory and waved goodbye. Steven stood outside Dumbledore's office, and opened his mouth to give the password. He paused. Steven realized that maybe he should be going to Professor Dippet about his father losing his job, not Dumbledore. Steven had never spoken directly to Headmaster Dippet before. He didn't know him, and didn't really feel comfortable telling him about family difficulties. On the other hand, Dumbledore wasn't even Headmaster, and anyway, there probably wouldn't be anything he could do about it anyway. Steven wasn't even fond of Dumbledore. Steven had just convinced himself that this was all a big mistake and that he would go to Headmaster Dippet another day, when Dumbledore opened the door.

"Steven! I've been expecting you. Did you forget the password?"

"No, I remembered." said Steven as he was ushered into the room. "I was just-"

Steven fell silent as he looked around the small room. The walls were packed with shelves full of books. Every spare space was filled with some kind of magical gadget that twirled or spun. A bed sat in a corner, covered in papers and quills. A desk sat in an opposite corner next to a small telescope that was pointing out the window. Both were nearly hidden by a stack of laundry that seemed to pile nearly to the ceiling. Dumbledore lifted a stack of book off of an old kitchen chair near a fireplace, and pulled up an old footstool.

"I apologize for the mess. I keep saying that they should get me a bigger office. Maybe someday…"

"N-no sir." Steven swallowed and clenched his fist. He enunciated to try and stop his nervous stutter. "You don't need to apologize, I shouldn't have interrupted."

"Not at all my dear boy." Dumbledore sat on the footstool, his knees at his chest, and gestured at the kitchen chair. "Please, have a seat."

Steven sat down, and Dumbledore pointed his wand at the fireplace, lighting it with a flick of his wand.

"Now, what can I do for you?"

"I… I, um…" Steven took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I should probably talk to Headmaster Dippet about this, but… it's my father."

Dumbledore leaned forward, concerned. "Is he alright?"

"No. Well, I mean, yes, he's not sick or anything. He's just lost his job is all. And I didn't know… Well, when I first came to Hogwarts, my parents exchanged Muggle money for wizard money, and… I mean, they don't have money anymore. So I don't know… Can I still stay?" Steven ended weakly.

Dumbledore smiled. "Of course you can stay, Steven. We've always had extra for our students in need. You and your family don't need to worry about a thing."

Steven gave a sigh of relief. He felt twenty pounds lighter. "Th-Thank you sir. I mean, this is so kind of you."

Dumbledore waved his hand. "It's nothing, really. If you like I can talk to Headmaster Dippet for you if you like."

Steven smiled. "That would be amazing, thank you sir. I was just so worried, I mean, even with Tom telling me that it would be alright, I was just nervous that with me having a family… I don't know. Thanks, sir." He moved to stand up.

"One moment." Dumbledore said, motioning for Steven to stay. "I feel like that isn't the only thing you're worried about."

Steven froze. "Um… I… I guess not, sir. But I'd rather not say."

Dumbledore looked into Steven with his penetrating blue eyes.

"Didn't you bring Tom Riddle home with you over the holidays?"

Steven shrunk in his chair. "Yes, sir."

"Did you just ask him on a whim to come with you?"

Steven straightened up. "Tom is my friend, I would have asked him anyway."

"So someone told you to ask him?"

Steven froze. How did he know? "Yes, sir."

"Who was it?"

"Professor Slughorn, sir."

Dumbledore paused and leaned back, forgetting for a moment that his chair didn't have a back to lean on.

"Professor Slughorn… Interesting."

Steven shifted in his kitchen chair, uncomfortable. "May I go now, sir?"

"Not quite yet. How did Tom respond to your family? Was he friendly?"

Steven was starting to feel like this was an interrogation. He almost wanted to lie to Dumbledore just to get out of this cluttered uncomfortable room, but he knew that just wouldn't be right to lie.

"He was quiet, sir. I felt like he wished he had a family of his own."

Dumbledore rested his elbow on his knee and stroked his long beard. "Yes… Yes, I wish that he had his own family too."

Steven had a glimmer of an idea.

"Professor, what if Tom did have a family? What if we could find them?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "I'm afraid that's impossible. No one knows who his mother was, and we don't have anything else to go on."

Steven looked down at his shoes. "Well… my friend. She lives near a family named the Riddles. There's even a Tom Riddle. They live in Little Hangleton. I thought, maybe, since they have the same name, there could be some connection."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I doubt it. Tom is a very common name. But, if it will make you feel better, I'll investigate." Dumbledore smiled, and his eyes twinkled. "And has Tom been bothering you at all? Any bullying, stealing, general unpleasantness?"

Steven thought about the voice in the corridor. Then he thought about the incident on the train. He thought about the threat to his family. He thought about how scared he had been. And then, he shook his head.

"No, sir."

Dumbledore looked at him for one long moment, and then smiled at him.

"Alright then. I'm sure I've kept you from your cozy common room for long enough."

Dumbledore stood up and opened the door for Steven.

Steven made his way back to the Hufflepuff common room. It had been a very long day. He pulled out his map and studied it. He had a fair bit done, but he knew it would take years for him to completely finish it. He pulled out a pencil and marked Dumbledore's office on the map. Steven shuffled through the papers, making notes of where he still needed to go. Then he came to the page with the S hallway. He paused. It still wasn't completely filled in. Steven wished he had never even seen that hallway. The moment he had seen Tom there seemed so long ago.

Steven suddenly felt like he was doused in ice water.

"Watch where you're going there, son!"

Steven knew that voice. He looked up to see the Bloody Baron. Steven's stomach dropped. Ghosts were still so terrifying.

"Oh, um, sorry." Steven mumbled. He started to walk quickly away.

"Wait a moment." The Bloody Baron squinted at him. "I do know you! You're that boy who was in the dungeons that night!" He peered at Steven. "You don't look as peaky as you were then."

"I-I've been home for the holidays."

"Oh, that's right! Your mum probably fattened you right up."

Steven had a fleeting thought of body stealing ghosts, and shook his head.

"I'm sorry about walking through you. I was just heading to my common room." Steven made to walk around the ghost.

"I'll come with you." the ghost smiled, and turned to walk next to Steven. "I haven't been down that way for a while."

Steven shivered. "Sure, why not?"

They walked in silence for a moment.

"Have you gone back down that hallway lately?" asked the Baron.

Steven shook his head.

"Such a shame. Probably very wise though. You may not even be able to find it again."

Steven looked at the ghost, confused. "Why not?"

"It's a secret entrance. Not just anyone can stumble on it, you know. I'm surprised you were able to go in the first time."

Steven looked back at his feet. Looking at the Bloody Baron made him queasy.

"Do you know what it's for?" asked the Baron.

Steven shook his head.

The Baron chuckled. "I probably shouldn't tell you. It is a secret after all. But I like you." He stopped, and beckoned Steven closer.

Steven knew it would probably be rude to refuse, and came a little closer. He didn't want to make a ghost angry.

The Baron leaned towards him, and whispered icily into Steven's ear. "It's so that Salazar's vision-"

The ghost stopped and looked up. Steven watched as another ghost, this one a regal looking woman, drifted through the door ahead of them.

"H-Helena?" stuttered the Baron.

The translucent woman looked up and stopped dead in her tracks. Without a word, she swooped above Stevens head, making all his hairs stand on end. She flew down the corridor and straight through a wall at the far end.

"Helena! Wait! I never meant-" The Baron zoomed away after her, and Steven was left alone.

Steven was glad all the ghosts were gone. But he was still curious what the Baron was going to say about Salazar's vision. And why had he rushed away like that after that other ghost?

Steven was just about to start back on his way again, when the ghost of the woman stuck her head out from a wall just in front of him.

"Has he gone?" she whispered.

Steven froze and nodded. As beautiful as she was, she was still a ghost. Ghosts were scary no matter what they looked like.

She gave a sigh of relief and pulled the rest of herself out of the wall. "Good. I have no desire to speak with him. He doesn't often come down this way."

"I'm-I'm sorry. I didn't mean t-to bring him this way." Steven clenched his fist. This stupid stutter…

"I'm sure you didn't." she started to drift away, then paused. "What was he talking to you about anyway? You're a Hufflepuff, correct?"

Steven nodded. "He was saying something about… a vision? Salazar's vision? Something like that."

The ghost knitted her eyebrows, confused. "Why would he be telling…" She straightened herself up. "No matter. It's none of my concern." She turned away.

"Wait," called Steven. He wanted to hit himself for asking a ghost to come back. "I'm-I'm just curious. Why did the Bloody Baron chase after you like that?"

The woman turned slightly towards him, staring at the floor. "It's a long story."

She faded away until Steven was just staring at a blank wall.