Chapter Sixteen: Flushed

The pale pink potion Jayna held in her hand gave up a flowery scent that reminded her of perfume. She took a deep breath before swallowing about half of the vial's contents. Tom had said there was enough potion for two doses each, meaning they could stay in form for roughly two hours.

The potion tasted bland, despite its pretentious smell. Jayna screwed the small lid back on, sitting it down on the counter as she watched her appearance in the mirror. For a few seconds, nothing happened, and she began to grow doubtful. But then suddenly she shrunk by a few inches, her mirror image dropping down. Looking down, Jayna saw her hips and chest grow. Ugh, freaky weird. She cringed, glancing back up at her reflection. The first thing on her face to change was her eyes. Normally hazel, they darkened to a deep brown and her eyebrows tinted darker.

Her hair grew, the curls straightening themselves into slight waves. What had once been a dark golden blonde became black and shining. Then the last few changes happened, her nose turning up, her lips thinning, cheekbones jutting forward more, and her forehead shrinking.

Katherine stared back at Jayna, though the most alarming thing was that her facial expression was still altogether Jayna's. Jayna turned about, surveying her clothing. It was a bit snug and her shoes were perhaps a size too small. But it would do for a few hours. She pulled her cloak on anyway, which hid most of her figure.

When Jayna emerged into the sitting room, Mr. Bingsby was already there, looking disgruntled. Tom had been quiet and withdrawn all morning, and even Jayna's best attempts hadn't gotten much out of him. He had been gone from their suite when she woke up, and when Jayna asked where he had been, he offered little in the way of an answer.

The best Jayna could do was check out the window to make sure there were no Dark Marks lingering in the skies or muggle police tape littering the streets. Then when he had ordered her to take the potion so they could make it into the Ministry during the morning rush, she had done so without complaint.

Now Tom looked over at her, watery brown eyes and balding head alarming her for a moment. "This is messed up on so many levels," Jayna commented, cringing when she heard the whining quality to Katherine's voice.

"Indeed. You took long enough," Tom complained, voice too low and grinding now compared to his usual smooth tone. "Come on, we haven't got much time."

The pair checked the outside hallway before darting down the steps. Mr. Dodderidge didn't even glance up from where he was behind the bar, scrubbing away at dirty glasses. It was only a few blocks to the public bathroom Mr. Bingsby had told them about, and when they got near Tom stopped her.

"Here," he slipped one of the golden coins into her hands. "After you flush yourself, meet me in the atrium-"

Jayna interrupted. "Wait. You literally have to flush yourself?"

Tom sighed impatiently. "Yes Katherine, you have to flush yourself."

Jayna's eyes narrowed in disbelief. She had thought it was merely an expression, since the transportation took place in a bathroom. "So you're telling me, I have to climb into a toilet, and literally pull the lever and go down the drain?"

"I would assume that's how it works, yes," Tom drawled.

She blinked. "No way in hell."

"Fine. Then stay here, and I'll do it alone," the Slytherin snapped in frustration, turning on his heel as he started towards the identical staircases. They each had a sign painted above the steps that read "Ladies" or "Gentlemen".

A low whine started in Jayna's throat. "Waaait. Fine. I'll go flush myself down a disgusting loo."

Riddle stopped, the corner of Mr. Bingsby's thin lips twitching upwards into a smirk. It alarmed Jayna to see an expression that was completely Tom's on the portly middle aged man's face. "Fine. Meet me in the atrium," he ordered curtly.

Jayna nodded before stomping over to the staircase labeled "Ladies." With an indignant huff, she started down the steps. There was a ridiculously long line, but she waited, though she tapped her toe anxiously. Flushed down a loo loo…Where people go poo poo…She came up with silly rhymes in her head to keep her nerves at bay.

A red haired woman in front of her turned around, smiling knowingly. "First time?"

"Yes," Jayna replied through a clenched jaw.

"It's actually quite fun once you get the hang of it," the woman assured her.

"Yes, perhaps when I'm done here I can go use a dumpster to teleport to St. Mungo's," she said sarcastically.

The woman's eyebrows raised. "Oh, no," she said. "Only the healers are allowed to use the dumpster entrance."

"Of course," Jayna agreed mockingly, nodding as the woman disappeared into a stall that a whirling flush had just issued from. Jayna waited a few more minutes until another stall was relieved of its occupant. Then she moved forward, sticking her coin into the small, discreet slot in the door like she had watched the others do.

Narrowing her eyes at the innocent porcelain bowl, she proceeded to lock the door behind her. Then she sighed, weighing her options. Climb into a toilet bowl or let Riddle go alone…Damn.

Jayna climbed awkwardly up onto the bowl of the toilet, balancing precariously with one foot on either side of the seat. She wrinkled up her nose, reluctant to touch the water. "Uh, Ministry of Magic, please?" she asked the air hopefully.

Nothing happened. Gritting her teeth in frustration, and supporting herself with both hands on the chipped beige walls of the stall, Jayna moved one foot. She whined in annoyance as she stuck the toe of her shoe into the water.

Then there was a clang as something happened, and Jayna watched with eyes widened to circles as the lever pulled itself down. She felt a suction beginning to pull her shoe down, and in a last minute panic attempted to rip her ankle back up out of the toilet to no avail. She sunk in to her knees, and then her hips. The water began swirling as it pulled her down, and she managed to catch herself on the toilet seat, looking down to see her body warping as it passed through the bottom of the toilet and entered the pipe. With one last "Eek!" her grip was broken and she was sucked through the piping. She saw nothing but black for a few moments, as water rushed around her.

Then she landed, spluttering, into a similar stall to the one she just left. Looking down, she saw her clothing was quite dry. And when she opened the door, she found the exact bathroom she had just left. She swore angrily, stomping over to the staircase, thinking that the flushing hadn't worked somehow.

However, when she reached the top of the staircase and shoved the door open, she didn't see the London street she was expecting. Instead, she saw a huge room with high ceilings. Taking a few steps out, Jayna lost her breath.

There were massive, ornate fireplaces lining both sides of the atrium. On one side only an occasional witch or wizard would use them. On the other side, people were appearing every minute and striding from the hearths to join the crowd swarming through the atrium. And in the center of the impressive room was a towering fountain. A wizard, witch, centaur and house elf all spouted water up into the air.

Jayna took it all in before tilting her head to stare at the blue ceiling. It had golden symbols swimming across it. No one else seemed to pay it any attention but she stared for a good five minutes at it, mesmerized. Until she felt someone grab her arm. With a soft squeak she turned to see a stern looking Mr. Bingsby glaring down at her.

"Could you act any more like a tourist?" Tom hissed angrily.

Jayna jerked her arm back, scowling. She didn't know what Tom's problem was, but he had been grumpy the entire morning. It was getting old. "No one even noticed!" she hissed back defensively.

Tom scowled. "Just please, try to blend in?"

"Fine. Can we go already?" Jayna retorted. Mr. Bingsby heaved a sigh before nodding. Then he proceeded to guide her over to the far end of the atrium, where most of the wizards seemed to be headed.

They joined a queue, waiting while the line slowly moved along. Jayna started tapping her foot again lightly in impatience but several veiled glares from Tom stopped her. Finally she asked, "What, is it your time of the month or something?"

"My time of what?" he repeated, cocking an eyebrow.

"You know. You on the rag? Because you've been rude all morning," Jayna insisted.

Tom snorted, offended. "Watch your mouth, Katherine. I could leave you here," he threatened quietly.

Jayna had had enough. Offended, she proclaimed, "I am not speaking to you again until you apologize for being a complete jerk this morning."

"Finally, some good news," Tom remarked dryly, turning his back on her as he faced the front of the line.

Jayna narrowed her eyes at the back of Bingsby's balding head. A few minutes later they had finally reached the front of the line and stopped by a small booth. There was a guard sitting in it, who looked bored, before he nodded at Tom.

"Good morning, Rupert. Go on through," he sighed to Tom. Then his eyes turned to Jayna. "Why, Katherine? I haven't seen you around here with your dad since…Well, since you were half that tall!"

Tom put a caring arm around her, giving a simpering grin. Jayna resisted the urge to kick him, instead forcing an equally fake smile onto her face. "She's just stopping by with me on an errand before we're off for the day. Would you like to check her wand?" he offered.

The guard shook his head. "Nah, I won't detain you folks any longer. Go on."

Jayna followed Tom to the fancy golden lifts that waited for them. They got into one moving upwards with two other wizards and one witch. She watched the numbers light up, waiting. When all of their companions had gotten off and they were still moving upwards, she asked Tom, "Er, what floor is it?"

"First floor," he answered curtly. "And I thought you were not speaking to me."

Jayna was furious for a second that she had already slipped up, but then sighed. Forcing a smile onto her face, Jayna shook her head. "No, I've actually just decided that your being an idiot shouldn't have a negative effect on my mood."

The elevator grinded to a halt as Tom's eyes narrowed. "You're lying," he accused.

The doors slid open then, a woman's pleasant voice announcing: "Level three. Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Muggle liaison office, obliviator headquarters, and magic reversal squad."

Neither Tom nor Jayna moved to get out, both shooting glares at the other. Last night we were fine! Why is he being like this now? Hurt, Jayna waiting for the doors to glide shut. When several lavender pieces of paper flew in just as the doors closed, flapping about their heads, she grabbed one. Balling it up, she whipped it at the back of Riddle's head.

It made a surprisingly sharp noise upon impact, and Tom flinched before turning to give her a furious stare. "Must you act like a petulant child?" he ground out.

"Must you act like you've got a wand shoved up a bodily orifice?" Jayna retorted quickly.

"Level two. Department of Magical Law enforcement. Auror's office, improper use of magic office, and Wizengamot administration," the relaxed female voice announced as they reached another floor.

Neither spoke as a wizard joined them on the lift. Doing a double take at Tom, he smiled. "Ah, I thought it was you, Rupert. How's the day treating you?" the man asked.

Tom returned the grin, nodding. "Quite alright. And you?" he asked.

The man waved a broad hand. "No complaints…How are those neighbors of yours?"

"Oh, the Strettons?" Tom questioned.

"Yeah, yeah…Stretton…he's a real piece of work, eh?" the man pressed. "All those inventions, none of them hardly ever useful…Real pain…"

"Yes, he is a piece of work," Tom repeated in agreement.

Jayna locked her jaw, vowing to remain silent. She was rather fond of the Strettons and really didn't appreciate any negativity from this man towards them. The elevator grinded to a halt then. "Level one. Minister for magic and support staff," the voice informed them. The man shoved himself out first.

He paused as Jayna and Tom climbed out. "Do me a favor and tell him to cut back with the experiments, eh? I don't need to see him anymore in the improper use of magic office," he said, disgruntled.

Riddle gave a silent nod and the man gave a farewell wave as he disappeared down a hallway. Then Tom locked his arm through Jayna's and practically dragged her away from the lifts, down corridors that became increasingly narrow. Finally, when they passed a harassed looking intern and several dusty rooms that looked like they hadn't been used in years, Tom paused.

Before them stood one rough wooden door, beside it a dingy metal plaque reading: "Records Room."

"Impressive, isn't it?" Tom commented sarcastically. Jayna remained silent. He glanced at her before sighing in irritation. "Fine, I apologize. Or would you like something written and signed in blood?"

Jayna narrowed her eyes at him. "No, I'd just like the Tom from the last few days back. Not this crabby version," she told him truthfully before starting forward alone. She shoved the door open, but it was heavier than it appeared.

It creaked slowly agape, revealing the records room. The room had a high warehouse-like ceiling with large lights hanging down. One flickered annoyingly, and beneath the blinking light was the beginning of a maze. Shelves stretched up past twice a man's height, large and imposing looking.

On the shelves was everything from small vials of swirling white memories to decaying parchment. Jayna thought this room rivaled Hogwart's library with its sheer mass of books and material.

Wide eyed, she turned to see Tom's reaction. He too was looking at the room, though he looked less surprised at the massive space. He took a few steps forward, pausing to glance down at Jayna.

"We should stay together so as not to get lost," he said, though his voice didn't have the authoritative, impatient quality it had held throughout the morning.

Jayna nodded up at Mr. Bingsby's imposter. They started forward, shoving the door closed behind them.


The records room had a vague sense of organization. It was supposed to be alphabetical, but Jayna and Tom wound up getting lost more than a few times. The room was eerily quiet, besides their occasional footsteps. It was a depressing place where the past went to die, in Jayna's opinion.

Finally they found themselves among files and books all related to the letter 'P'. Jayna was itching to grab a rather large box with the word 'Potter" scribbled on it but fought the urge. They had to pause when Riddle noticed his robes were getting too short and Jayna saw her hair beginning to fade back to blonde.

They swallowed the remainder of Polyjuice potion before continuing on. She kept up with Riddle's fast pace, though he was walking slightly slower due to Bingsby's shorter legs. She stared at his back thoughtfully. Tom had replaced his previous short temper with complete silence instead. Maybe something happened this morning…Might explain the sudden mood swing.

"Does it have to do with where you went this morning?" she asked finally, her voice sounding too loud after such a long silence among the shelves. Tom sent her a questioning glance. "Your bad mood today. Does it have to do with whatever you were up to this morning?"

"Perhaps," the Slytherin offered, grabbing her arm to change her direction as he turned suddenly around a corner.

"Perhaps? Why won't you just tell me?" Jayna pressed.

Tom whirled on her, even managing to make Mr. Bingsby's watery eyes burn as he scanned her face for a moment. Then, finally, he glanced away. "I went to the cemetery, alright?"

"Y-your mother's cemetery?" Jayna asked quietly. He nodded, before sighing.

"So I am…I'm…I'm sorry if I was rude this morning. You didn't deserve it," he offered, rolling his eyes slightly as if mocking his own words.

"It's fine, but…there must be something else?" she ventured. Tom raised a hand to run it through his hair before apparently realizing he didn't have any at the moment. Dropping it, he resumed walking down the row.

Jayna followed as he answered, "There is. There was something…someone left something on my mother's grave."

She couldn't help it as a small gasp escaped her. Ah, the plot thickens! "But…Who would have visited her? Your father?"

A derisive noise came from Riddle. "I doubt he even knows, nor cares, where my mother is buried. No, it was someone else."

"Like a relative? Did you know she had family left?" Jayna asked cautiously.

"No," Tom answered, Mr. Bingsby's voice becoming tight. "This is it," he said after a moment. They had arrived in the S section, and a large section was devoted to Salazar Slytherin.

"Where in all of this would his journals be?" Jayna wondered, pulling out a random box and sneezing as a plume of dust rose into the air.

"There doesn't seem to be any order to it. Just search through everything, and quickly. We're running out of time," Riddle ordered.

Jayna did as she was told, sneezing every few seconds as clouds of dirt and grime from years of storage rose around them. Finally she found something carefully sealed into a protective case. She narrowed her eyes at the worn leather front tearing away from the rest of the journal.

"Bingo!" she announced finally, ripping her eyes away from the only things on the front, a pair of red serpent eyes and the script at the bottom: 'Property of S. Slytherin.'

Tom rocked back onto his heels next to her, halfway through tearing the top of a molding box off. "'Bingo'?" He cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh, come off it, you must have played that at least once," she insisted.

Tom shook his head. "Did you find it?" he asked impatiently.

Jayna held out the journal. "I think so."

Tom's eyes roved over the cover before he nodded. "This is it. Come on," he said, hurriedly shoving things back up onto the shelves. "This would go so much faster if we could use bloody magic…" he grumbled under his breath.

Jayna silently agreed. When they finally had halfway cleaned up their mess and started back through the maze of records, she considered what Tom had said. "What was her name? Your mother?" she asked randomly.

Tom was silent for several minutes, so long that Jayna had thought he wasn't going to answer. Then he replied, "Gaunt. Merope Gaunt."

"Do you-d'you want to check the records for her family before we leave?" she asked hesitantly.

Riddle nodded immediately.


They nervously waited for the lift, aware that their time was quickly running out. Jayna had a thick pad of parchment stuffed into her cloak, scratched away at with notes about the Gaunts from a hurried quill. Next to her, Tom waited, Slytherin's journal concealed beneath his own clothing.

Just as the doors opened and the woman's voice announced the usual floor number, a man yelled out, "Hold the lift please!"

Jayna climbed in the elevator with absolutely no intention of doing that. However, Tom clearly didn't want to draw suspicious. He kept his arm out to keep the doors from closing as the man sprinted over. Jayna practically groaned. It was the same man from earlier.

"Hey, twice in one day, eh?" he asked, panting to catch his breath as the doors closed.

Twice in one day, eh? I'm such an annoying git, eh? Blah blah blah, eh? Jayna chanted in her head, annoyed. Tom merely inclined his head, looking bored.

"Y'know how I was remarking on Stretton earlier, eh? Well guess who I'm going to meet with just now?" the man said, too amused looking to really be irritated.

"I do not know, Mr. Stretton?" the Slytherin next to Jayna ventured, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes! He's gone and done it again, blew the wall out of his house! Made so much noise he got the muggle's attention that live nearby!" the man exclaimed, face incredulous.

"Oh, no! Are the children okay?" Jayna asked immediately, worried.

The annoying man waved his huge paw dismissively. "They're just fine, fine! But that's a bunch of paper work for me, eh!"

"My apologies," Tom offered, though his voice was completely flat and suggested he really didn't care.

"Oh, it never ends…I always have to deal with types like him, being so high up in my office. These crazy wizards fancy themselves inventors, the wings of change!" he continued on, ranting. "But you know what I say, eh? I say they are full of bullocks. They're just insane!"

Tom's jaw locked during the man's tirade in frustration but now he spoke. Quietly, he offered, "One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane."

"Eh? What is that even supposed to mean, Bingsby?" the man asked, mouth twitching as though he wanted to laugh.

The doors on the elevator opened then, the female's voice stating what Jayna had been longing to hear: "Level eight, the Atrium."

As Jayna stepped out of the elevator, Tom explained to the man, "It means only the very intelligent would be perceived as insane by the very stupid."

They strode quickly away from the elevator, leaving behind a spluttering man who had just been insulted. There was hardly any time left, Jayna felt her hands start shaking with nervousness. They darted towards the staircases that led to the bathroom. There was a large dish of the magical Ministry coins between the doors.

Jayna grabbed one of the golden coins and half walked, half ran down the steps into the bathroom while Tom did the same on the other staircase. Luckily there was not much of a line, and she got into a stall almost immediately.

This time she didn't even pause to consider the unpleasant truth of what she was doing. She just climbed right up on the bowl, stuck her foot in the toilet water and demanded, "London entrance!" She was in such a rush she forgot to take a deep breath before being flushed.

With a swirling of water she was pulled down the drain, emerging ingloriously back into the similar bathroom outside a busy city street. Jayna had accidentally swallowed a bit of the water during the crazy trip throughout pipes, and now she spit it up. Ugh, nasty. She made a face, hoping that queasy feeling in her stomach was just due to disgust and not germs.

Gross, gross, gross…

She forced herself to emerge from the stall and stomped up the staircase, practically bowling over a petite woman who screeched at her back. Then she was in the bright sunlight, eyes scanning the crowd for Tom.

Mr. Bingsby's tired eyes found hers and he pulled her away from the main street, down a narrow alley road. It was just in time, for Jayna actually felt her hair beginning to tangle and curl wildly.

Next to her, Tom's eyes had already lightened to a piercing sapphire blue as they darted around the surroundings. He found a small alcove from the side door of a store and dragged her to it, shoving her in against the locked door and stone wall. He crammed himself opposite her, and it shielded them both for the most part from the main street.

Jayna could only watch, intrigued and alarmed, as the changes took place on Tom. She couldn't see herself, but felt her hips shrinking and her height increasing a bit. Opposite her, Tom's squashed nose straightened itself and elongated into a perfect regal form. Thick black hair grew from his mostly scarce scalp, it was the most bizarre thing to see.

His lips became fuller than Bingsby's thin mouth, his cheekbones raising and jaw line sculpting itself as he shot up taller. They were already packed into the small space and now as Tom reached his full height he had to lean over, his face coming dangerously close to Jayna's. The very corner of his mouth twitched up in slight amusement.

"Oh, there you are, Jayna," he said, pretending to be surprised.

Before she could even retort, and say something like Oh there you are, Tom! Darn, I'm going to miss that sexy middle aged baldy, she was interrupted. An older woman had apparently decided to cut through the alley. Now she paused outside the alcove, eyes taking in the pair of teenagers.

She made a disgusted face. "It is so indecent for you to be doing that in public!" she said, sounding harassed. "The youth these days…No sense of modesty…" she muttered, head shaking furiously, as she continued down the alleyway.

Jayna glanced down and realized how it must look. Her body contorted to Riddle's, their faces mere centimeters apart. Blushing, she attempted to extricate herself from him, but ended up tripping. Tom, to be fair, did try to catch her before she fell out but only managed to unbalance himself as well.

They both tumbled out, landing with collective thumps onto the hard ground. "Ouch," Jayna whined, rubbing her throbbing elbow. Riddle had caught himself before his complete weight landed on her, and now glanced down at her arm before standing up.

He offered her a hand and pulled her up. It was then that Jayna glanced down and saw that his robes, made for Mr. Bingsby's height, were several inches too short. She started laughing. Tom, looking offended, commanded, "Stop it."

She tried to stop the peals of laughter as they started walking back to the main street but was too overcome by the way he was scowling. She held her stomach as she giggled, Riddle looking more and more frustrated. "Stop it or I'll curse you," he said. "And I know where you sleep."

Jayna fell silent, rolling her eyes.


They arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron, hurriedly slipping up the stairs before Mr. Dodderidge could spot them. Jayna had already fished the key to their rooms out, and was steps away from the door, when Tom stopped her.

"Wait, give me the key," he ordered softly. Jayna turned, confused, to Tom. His wand was out, his eyes narrowed at the innocent door before them, a skewed number 7 gleaming in brass. She handed over the key. "Get behind me," he whispered.

She did as she was told, staying behind Tom as he unlocked the door, wand trained on the room as the door swung open. She peeked around his shoulder to see whatever he was acting so paranoid about.

"Mr. Riddle, that is hardly polite," Professor Dumbledore chastised from the middle of their living room, nodding at the upraised wand. He wore a traveling cloak over mismatched muggle clothing, and was smiling slightly at them.

"Du-Professor Dumbledore," Tom corrected hastily. "What are you doing here?"

"You were both missing from Hogwarts. I am glad to see you are whole and healthy," Dumbledore remarked, not answering the question. His eyes raised to Jayna's eyes, just visible next to Tom's shoulder, and his smile grew. "Come in, why don't you?" he asked.

Tom didn't move for a second, then reluctantly lowered his wand and stepped through the doorway. Jayna followed, shutting the door behind them. Tom had begun to twirl his wand through his fingers, and his deeper blue eyes met Dumbledore's pale ones in something like a staring match.

"How did you find us, Sir?" Riddle asked, the sir coming out like a last minute addition to the sentence.

"It was not hard, I assure you," the professor stated. "But enough of this pretense." Dumbledore sat down on the sofa near the window, gesturing for them to do the same. Tom strode to the seating opposite the auburn haired professor, joined by Jayna. "What have you stolen from the Ministry?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

Jayna's pulse immediately increased, her hand coming protectively across her robes. Tom's eyes narrowed to slits as he examined the professor across from them. "Why do you think we have stolen something, Professor?" he asked slowly.

"Habits are hard to break, Tom. But let me explain," Dumbledore said, leaning forward. He inclined his head at the Slytherin. "I could only guess when things started happening at Hogwarts that you were involved. After your disappearance, when I examined the Chamber of Secrets, this was confirmed."

Jayna gasped with surprise that Dumbledore knew so much. Tom, however, raised an eyebrow, looking unconcerned. He asked, "Yes? And how did you know it had been me to open the chamber?

"All magic leaves its marks," the professor replied, a small smile appearing. His pale blue eyes slowly turned to Jayna, and his smile grew. "Of course, I only suspected you were involved, Miss Barrows. Tom, here, had never held the company of friends until you came along. Though I was hard pressed to explain where a blonde hair might come from in the chamber…"

Jayna squirmed uncomfortably, cursing her messy hair. Tom, however, was looking annoyed. "You can leave her out of this. She had nothing to do with it," he commanded, wand falling still in his hand.

"Oh? I assumed it was she who tried to stop you, and is now attempting to help you fix what you have done. Or have I assumed wrong?" Dumbledore asked, waiting for an answer.

Jayna's gaze rose from her lap to the aggravated Slytherin next to her, his face set like stone. She wanted to tell Dumbledore everything, to explain everything so they could have his help. But she didn't dare spill without Tom's permission. Finally, his stormy eyes found hers, and he gave a small nod.

Thank ye holy oranges. Jayna's mouth opened but she didn't even know where to start. "Professor, Tom didn't know what he was doing!" she exclaimed. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, doubtfully.

"I think Mr. Riddle was fully aware what he was doing when he unlocked Slytherin's chamber," the professor replied.

Next to her, Tom let out a hiss of breath. Jayna scowled. "He might have known what he was unlocking, but he didn't really know what was down there! Why do you think we are doing this? To try to stop whatever he's released!" she insisted.

Dumbledore ignored her and turned his attention to Tom. "What did you do with the basilisk after you used it to murder that girl?" he asked, any previous trace of amusement vanishing from his features.

Jayna couldn't believe her ears. No, no, no! This is what led to him being Voldemort in the first place! People condemning him without giving him a chance!

Tom let out a growl of fury, standing up. "I did not set the basilisk on her!" he said, voice quiet but lethal.

"The snake does its master's bidding." Dumbledore remained sitting, but there was no mistaking the challenging quality in his voice.

Jayna had the terrible notion that if she didn't interfere soon she would have an all out duel on her hands. And the worst thing was she knew Tom might not win, but that he was powerful enough so there would be quite a bit of damage done. She stood up, coming in front of Tom.

She was too short to really block Dumbledore from view, but nontheless tried. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she spoke in a low tone. "Tom, calm down." His blue eyes shot down to hers, violent with rage. "I know you're angry, but that is not going to help the situation. Please, sit down," she said, putting pressure on his shoulders in an effort to coax him back on the couch.

Tom stared down at her, his gaze making her entire body burn with his emotion, for several long tense moments. Then he took a step back, sinking down onto the sofa. Jayna let out a breath of air she hadn't been aware of holding.

She sat beside him, immediately settling her hand over his. It was more so she could press his wand down to the floor than for sentimental reasons. She turned to glare at Dumbledore, who looked slightly surprised by what had happened.

"Now, will you please listen to me?" she asked him, trying her best to keep the aggravation from her tone. He nodded once.

"Good. When I thought Tom was releasing the basilisk, I went racing down in the chamber, like an idiot, to try to stop him. I hurt myself on the way and was bleeding pretty bad. Tom could barely control the basilisk then, I heard him arguing with it in-in Parseltongue, trying to stop it from attacking me," she said.

Dumbledore's eyebrows had raised with curiosity so she continued on. "He finally got it to leave me alone and he got me out of the chamber. He was taking me down to the hospital wing when we saw the spiders. They were going towards the entrance I used to the chamber. We followed them, and that is when we saw Myrtle. She was already dead."

Tom's grip had finally relaxed enough at that point so that Jayna could pull his wand from his hand. She did, sitting it down on the cushion between them and replacing it with her own hand.

"So don't you see, Professor? I was with Tom the whole time. He didn't tell the snake to kill Myrtle," Jayna said reasonably.

Dumbledore considered that for a moment before saying, "You said he was speaking in Parseltongue? Do you, Jayna, understand that language?"

Stupid dolt. Jayna sighed with frustration. Tom, however, clenched her hand quite painfully when he heard that. His head jerked up. "Professor, I did not kill that girl. I know what you think of me, but I swear it. I swear."

Albus Dumbledore looked taken aback by Riddle's pleading tone, and his face, which had turned from furious to desperate. He glanced down before nodding. "Very well. After this-accident, what did you do with the basilisk?"

"I sealed it back in the chamber. It's…something else has been possessing the students," Tom said.

Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, I know. It too stems from the chamber. Does it not?"

"It's something really old. It first attacked Slytherin himself, and then his son before he sealed it in the chamber," Jayna spoke up. "We spoke to the Bloody Baron about it, and he told us to stop it we'd have to know more about it. That's why we…" She stopped when she realized she had said too much.

Tom, however, announced, "We stole Salazar Slytherin's journals to see where this thing comes from and how to kill it."

Dumbledore sat back in his seat, looking satisfied. "I must say I am impressed by what you have accomplished. I will not bother lecturing you, Tom. I trust you know now what a mistake you made." Tom's jaw clenched. "Do you have the journal?" the professor asked.

Tom hesitated for a moment before reaching into his robes and pulling the small book out. He handed it over to Dumbledore, who tapped the casing with his wand. It fell open, revealing the yellowed parchment.

Jayna watched as the professor inspected the cover and then the first page. Then, the older man's face fell. "This is most unfortunate."

"Don't tell me it's the wrong one?" Jayna asked, groaning.

"No. It is encoded, however. I will need a cipher to read this," Dumbledore explained.

"Where can we find the cipher?" Tom pressed. "It must tell the location."

"Yes. I am familiar with the forest mentioned, but…I am also familiar with the beings there. This will be difficult," Dumbledore said, standing. "I thank you both for your honesty and for going through the trouble of finding this."

Tom stood as well, retrieving his wand from where it had been sitting. "Sir, you are not going to leave us out of this."

Dumbledore frowned. "I am afraid that is exactly what I am going to do. This is too dangerous for you. I am going to make arrangements for you to be taken to Kendirah Barrow's home, Jayna. And Tom, you will have to return to-"

"I am not going back there!" Tom snapped.

"I am going to try my best to finish this, Mr. Riddle," Dumbledore said sternly. "With any luck, if I am successful, Hogwarts will be reopened after winter break. You will most likely be allowed to return, after explaining to the Ministry that the deaths were a horrible accident."

"Dumbledore, if you try to leave us out of this, I will do something really bad," Jayna threatened.

The professor seemed unaffected. "That is hardly threatening, Miss Ba-"

"I will mess your world up, Dumbledore," the blonde continued, sticking her hands on her hips and focusing him with a menacing glare which she learned by watching Riddle. "Remember when I first showed up in your office? The things I told you? Do you really want to see how badly I can interfere?"

Dumbledore fell silent, his mouth slightly open. "I hardly believe you would-"

"I would, Professor. I would," Jayna insisted, grinning confidently. Riddle was watching her, his face mildly amused.

"I believe that means we will be accompanying you, Professor Dumbledore?" Tom asked.

Dumbledore looked frustrated. "If you come along, then there are three rules you must agree to follow. Unconditionally."

"Fine, what are they?" Jayna asked.

"Follow my directions without question or complaint, as quickly as possible. Do not stray from me without permission. And do not cause trouble or tell others what we are doing. Understood?" the professor asked.

"That seemed like more then three, but okay," Jayna said, shrugging.

"And Mr. Riddle?" Dumbledore asked.

"Fine," Tom said. "Where are we going?"

"A forest in Belarus. There is a tribe of magical beings that make their camp in that forest. They hold the cipher," Dumbledore explained.

"What kind of beings?" Jayna asked curiously.

"Centaurs, vampires, among others. Also there will be a few wizards and witches," the professor added. "But they will not be pleasant. They scorn both muggle and magical communities, and dislike outsiders."

"Oh. Sounds…wonderful," the blonde commented, making a face. "This is going to take so much more time, though. What if that thing gets out of Hogwarts? People are in danger-"

"That power is contained within Hogwarts. The school itself has very powerful magic," Dumbledore interrupted. "Only those walking its halls would be in harm's way, and I was the last to leave."

"Last alive thing to leave, you mean," Jayna said. "Poor Peeves…"

Tom gave her a look of disbelief before shaking his head. "Professor how exactly are we going to get there?"

"I will have to arrange a portkey. We will leave in the morning," the older man said, turning to leave the room. "And do try to stay out of trouble tonight," he added as he opened the door.

"Yeah, you do try to remember what I said. You better not try to leave us," Jayna called after him.

Dumbledore stepped out into the hallway, turning to give her a small smile. "I would not dare. Seven o'clock in the morning. Be ready." He let the door shut with a click.

Jayna groaned, staring after the professor through the wooden door. "Why so early?"

She was about to plop down onto the couch again when Tom said sharply, "Wait!"

She gave him a questioning look. "You are going to sit on Sorcio," Tom accused.

Jayna glanced down. The small green snake flicked its tongue out from where it was curled up on the navy blue cushion, offended. "Oh. Oh! Tom you said you'd talk to him!" She exclaimed, suddenly remembering his promise to speak to the snake about how old it is.

The Heir of Slytherin sighed before nodding. "I did," he admitted. Then, lips slightly parted, he hissed.

Jayna picked up Sorcio as the snake released a slow response. "What's he saying?" she asked eagerly.

"Just that you smell like roses," Tom said quietly. Sorcio continued speaking, winding up Jayna's arm to settle about her neck. "And that you keep him awake at night, when you talk in your sleep."

"I don't talk in my sleep," Jayna protested.

Tom laughed. "Actually, you do. You mumble all sorts of things, it is very interesting."

The blonde made a face. "What do I say?"

The Slytherin narrowed his eyes, turning to walk over to his bedroom door. "Oh, this and that…"

"Tom!" Jayna called. He opened the door, turning to smirk at her.

"I asked him about how old he is, and in response he told me about the scent of your hair and your annoying habit while sleeping," Tom said. "I told you he was crazy. I give up."

"And you tried so hard," Jayna replied sarcastically.

Tom just shook his head, disappearing into his room. Most likely to change out of those robes into a pair that don't show his socks. Jayna snickered. Then she remembered her disastrous return trip through the toilet and got up, marching towards her bathroom with the single goal of brushing her teeth for no less than an hour.