"Any plans for the holidays?" Abraxas asked, buttering his toast. Tomorrow was the first day of winter break.

"We've got family coming in," Alphard sighed, stirring his tea with resignation, "The whole lot of them."

"Well, at least we'll see you at the ball," Amelia assured him. Ball? Probably some kind of pureblood shindig Alexa had absolutely no interest in hearing about.

"What about you two?" Alphard asked, turning to Tom and Alexa.

"I'm just staying here," Alexa replied cheerfully.

"I am as well," Tom added.

"You won't be the only one in the dormitory this year," Abraxas commented brightly, seemingly unaware that his comment could cause offense. The reaction on Tom's face was barely noticeable. Just the barest twitch of his brow and twist at the corners of his mouth.

An owl swooped low over the top of them, forcing Alexa to duck down as it dropped it's letter squarely on Alphard's lap. He scowled, and ripped open the wax seal, pulling the piece of parchment from the envelope with quick movements. His hands were shaking ever so slightly. After reading a few lines he inhaled sharply, and tucked the letter away in his robes. The others continued to chat, but Alphard shoved the rest of his food down and rose, muttering something about needing to finish packing.

Alexa waited a few moments and finished what was left of her own breakfast, before rising to follow. He hadn't gone far, just out to the snow-filled courtyard. Given the weather, it was empty except for him, sitting on a bench, glaring down at the parchment.

"Are you alright?" she asked, coming to sit beside him. He jumped, evidently not hearing her approach.

He made a noise that was very much like a sniffle and flashed a grin. His eyes were filled with tears that he seemed too stubborn to let actually fall.

"Oh yeah," he waved her off, "Fine. Grand. Just the bee's knees."

"You sound very convincing," Alexa replied.

Alphard bit his lip, and looked up as if to hide his face. "My father wrote-just the usual. I'm not doing as well as Orion, he's very disappointed in me, I don't live up to the name of Black-all that delightful stuff."

"I don't think, no matter how hard you try, you'll ever be able to get a stick as far up your ass as Orion," she glanced at him, and he laughed.

"It seems rather painful," he sighed, "It's just frustrating-Orion didn't have Tom Bloody Riddle in his year to compete with. Of course he's Head Boy and top in his year. There's no competition." Alphard rolled his eyes, "I do just as well as him in most subjects-but all he does is study. He's already set on marrying Walburga, he's got his life planned out. I don't want to live like that."

"I'm sorry," Alexa said, "It sounds really awful."

"It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't make it abundantly clear he disfavored me. But at the stupid ball that's going to be what he's talking to his mates about. Praising Orion and shitting on me," he glared down at his fists.

Alexa set her hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "You want me to sneak in and beat him up?"

Alphard snorted, "My father or brother?" He leaned against her, the tension in his body dissipating.

She shrugged, "Both. Either. Whichever you like."

Alphard smiled, bumping gently with his shoulder, "Let's see how break goes. I might take you up on that."

"You know where I'll be."

They sat in silence for a while, just sitting together until they couldn't stand the cold anymore. When they reached the common room Alphard excused himself to finish packing, and sat down on the couch, summoning The Aeneid from her dorm.

"Mind if I join you?" the words startled her from her reading, making her jump. Tom was standing over the back of the couch.

"Only if you don't sneak up on me again," she chuckled, pressing her palm to her chest.

He smiled, "My apologies." He came around to sit beside her, closer than he normally would. It wasn't a difference that anybody but Alexa would probably notice-she couldn't even be sure if it was intentional.

"It will be nice to have company over the break," he commented, "Usually I'm the only one here."

"I'm glad," she smiled. This would either be completely awful or an opportunity to build

trust.

"There is something I wanted to ask you about," he began. He was definitely sitting too close and it was definitely on purpose.

She raised an eyebrow, shutting her book to give him her full attention. "Okay?" Her

heart rate picked up.

"How did we get out of the classroom?" He asked in a voice like silk. This was a boy

who knew how to use his good looks to his advantage.

"I told you," she said, keeping her voice light and amused, "We went around the edge."

"We couldn't have. Despite everything I was watching the spread. It had reached the wall. There wasn't a way out. But you did...something," the intensity of his gaze was burning.

"What?" she regarded him, "How would I have gotten us out any other way?" She should have known Tom would have noticed. She didn't have an explanation that would satisfy him.

"That's what I'm asking," he smiled pleasantly.

"Well, I just took us around the edge. So if you come up with anything else, let me know." Alexa could only hope he would drop it. His lips pressed together, but that was the only outward sign of irritation.

"I certainly will. I know what I saw-I know what I felt," he leaned in, and Alexa refused to back away, "You did something." There wasn't a way to placate him with lies. No doubt he had done his own research before approaching her. She didn't know what he had found, what he was aware of. She'd have to make another trip to the restricted section to hunt down anything that had to do with the gods.

"Would you have preferred if I left you there?" Alexa's voice was low and dangerous, and Tom reflexively sat back.

"Obviously not," he replied, brows pressing together.

"Then don't ask questions." With that she rose, walking out of the common room.

...

Tom hadn't really spoken to Alexa since she had made her vague threat. But now it was just the two of them alone at the Slytherin table for lunch, so it was hard to ignore. Everyone else had left not twenty minutes ago, having quickly finished their meals in excitement. Across the hall she could see Adeline and two others at the Gryffindor table, one Ravenclaw, and four Hufflepuffs.

She was sure Tom had been in the Chamber. She'd lost tabs on him after their conversation the day before. Threatening him was, perhaps, not the best thing she could have done, but there hadn't really been another option. Tom was right, she had done something. He would have felt the absolute compression and darkness of shadow travel. Maybe she should have just let him die or be injured or whatever would have happened. He could have been gotten brain damage, maybe it would have rendered him stupid. That certainly would have prevented Voldemort. She could have at least knocked him out before she shadow traveled.

Alexa could see Tom's quick glances from the corner of her eye. She frowned into her potatoes, pushing them around on her plate. Finally she set her utensils down with more force than necessary, and rose to leave. The silence was stifling, and she swore she could feel Dumbledore's eyes on her from the dais.

"Where are you going?" Tom asked, blinking in surprise.

"Back to the common room.," she shrugged. He frowned, standing up as well.

"I'll walk you back," he said quickly. That was weird. Unfortunately, she couldn't exactly argue with him without it getting weirder.

Tom was silent, but he kept glancing around. A pit formed in her stomach. The basilisk-it must be out. Alexa forced her breathing to stay even, and slipped her wand up her sleeve so it would be easier to react.

Suddenly, Tom stopped dead in his tracks. Alexa drew her wand, looking back at him. He seemed to be listening for something-she could feel the snake pass by, inside the wall. It's life was slow and sluggish. Self-sustaining.

"What's going on?" she asked softly, eyes on his face.

He gave a forced smile, and shook his head, "Nothing, just thought I heard something. Shall we?" And off they went until they turned a corner and found Mr. Rook petrified, laying amongst the remains of a broken mirror.

"That's not good," Alexa murmured, squatting down and pressing her fingers against his neck. She knew petrification didn't kill on it's own but the caretaker was ancient. Fortunately, his heartbeat was steady, if slowed.

"Alright, he's not dead, and it doesn't look like the glass cut him," she told Tom, although surely he knew. She levitated his body, unwilling to leave him there in case the beast came back. "Let's go. We've got to tell Dumbledore."

"You mean Dippet?" Tom asked, hurrying to keep up with the pace of her stride.

"Yeah, sorry." Dumbledore wasn't headmaster. Right. They reached the Great Hall, and Alexa paused, gently setting the caretaker down and turning back to Tom, "Stay here," she ordered, entering the hall without waiting for an answer. Keeping her face neutral she strode up to the faculty table, stopping in front of Dippet.

"Headmaster, Mr. Rook has been petrified. Tom Riddle and I just found him-I brought him here in case something came back for him, he's just outside the door."

Dippet's brows shot up, "Goodness," he rose, quickly skirting the table and stepping down from the dias. Alexa followed him to where Tom and Mr. Rook were waiting.

"Merlin's beard," Dippet looked down at the caretaker. It seemed as if he was trying to keep the horror off his face. Tom was only staring at the body. If she had to name his expression it would be curiosity.

"Go back into the hall," Dippet said, drawing his wand, "Please alert Professor Dumbledore. Your head of house will escort you back to your dormitory."

"Yes, sir," Alexa nodded, retreating back into the Great Hall. Dumbledore was already stepping down from the dias, making a casual stroll towards her.

"Miss Di Angelo," he sighed, looking tired, "I take it something terrible has happened?" his voice was too low for anyone else to hear. Tom had obediently taken a seat at the Slytherin table.

"Nobody is dead, and nobody will die. Mr. Rook will fully recover, as will everyone else," she murmured, "He's been petrified. Dippet wants you."

"Very well," Dumbledore said, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Have a seat."

She plopped back down at the table, where desert had appeared in their absence.

"This is proving to be an exciting holiday." Tom commented.

"More exciting than I was bargaining for anyways," she sighed, "I don't typically like my breaks to begin with a body."

Dumbledore returned to the Great Hall, standing in the middle of the room and waiting until total silence had fallen.

"There has been an unfortunate accident. Mr. Rook, our beloved caretaker, has been petrified. Will the heads of house please escort their remaining students to their common rooms?" he paused, glancing at Alexa's table, "As of now, you will be confined to your dormitory. Meals will be served there for the time being."

"Shit," Alexa muttered. Tom looked at her, alarmed by her language, and she shrugged. She was going to be stuck with him, possibly for the entirety of break. Nowhere to hide and no easy way to slip from the castle without him knowing. She glanced at him and realized he was poorly suppressing a smirk.

"Well," he said, "it looks like we'll be having plenty of quality time to talk." Tom had been hoping for this, she realized. It was a trap for poor Mr. Rook, a ploy to restrict her movement. To make her answer his questions. Anger bubbled in her chest, hot and dangerous. Had Rook been petrified before? Or was this a result of her? People were not going to get hurt because of her, regardless of the consequences.

Slughorn rushed them down to the common room and saw them safely inside before he trotted off. Tom wanted to play ball? Fine. She could play ball.

"What do you think is happening?" she asked, sitting down on the sofa. Tom put on a very convincing face of puzzlement.

"I don't know, I just hope Rook is okay," he sighed, sitting down beside her.

"Really? No guesses?" she prodded, "I would have expected more from the great and powerful Tom Riddle." She sat back, watching the face of her prey.

"Alas, I am a failure," he spread his hands in defeat, "Do you have any thoughts?"

She gave him an icy smile, "Basilisks cause petrification, if you look indirectly into their eyes." She paused, watching the pleasant look slip momentarily from his face before he could gain composure.

"What in Merlin's name would a monster like that be doing in a school?" he laughed.

"Salazar Slytherin was a parselmouth. His emblem was a snake...and after all, he didn't leave Hogwarts on the best terms. Wasn't there something about the Chamber of Secrets in Hogwarts, a History? Not to mention, with how fanatic the purebloods are, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a direct descendant at Hogwarts."

Tom had gone very, very pale. "That," he was struggling to keep his tone even. "Is a very serious suggestion." His voice wavered, whether from anger or fear she wasn't sure.

"You're right," she acknowledged, "Perhaps we should all keep our serious suggestions to ourselves then?"

He swallowed, and she watched his adam's apple bob in his throat. That had probably been too far, but the look of fear on his face spread a deep satisfaction through her entire being.

Tom quickly composed himself, straightening his tie and clearing his throat. "Even if you're right, it could be anyone. The attack may have happened before everyone left."

"Of course, and keep in mind, I'm only guessing," she flashed a smile.

He shook his head, "Have you mentioned this to the professors?" he asked, turning his charm back on, acting as if it had all been a joke between friends.

"Nah. I think it would be more fun to take down on my own," she chuckled, allowing the tension to fade.

"Alessandra please tell me you're not planning on going monster hunting?" Tom's voice was dry, but it had an undercurrent of worry to it. She was reminded that he had insisted on walking her to the dorm, leaving his own half finished plate. Had it been to ensure her safety?

"Me? Do something reckless or dangerous? Never," she snickered, kicking her shoes off and tucking her feet beneath her.

"Alexa," Tom began, and she couldn't tell if he was exasperated or amused.

"Alright," Alexa cut him off, bumping him with her shoulder, "No monster hunting. But, if I come across it…" she shrugged.

Tom sighed, leaning backwards and rubbing his hand over his face, "You're going to make me prematurely grey."

Her breath caught in her throat at the familiarity of the phrase.

"You're not the first to say that," she said, "and you won't be the last."

"Oh, I'm sure," he laughed. He was acting as if she hadn't just threatened him. Like she hadn't just revealed what she knew. Of course, he did technically have something over her as well, but his information was much less concrete. She doubted he trusted her so much that he was comfortable with her knowing anything about the chamber, even if it seemed to be just a wild guess. Or maybe he was okay with it, and now got the impression that her silence of the topic to the professors was an indicator of her loyalty. Perhaps he thought he could work with that to learn her secrets as well. He certainly seemed calm now. Every time she thought she had the upper hand, he reacted unexpectedly. She'd figured after she threatened him he would have left back up to the dorm on some pretense. But no, they were just sitting together chatting, hanging out. Tom summoned a normal deck of playing cards and began to teach her how to play gin. It was weird.

"I'm glad you're here," Tom's voice was surprisingly soft, "Nobody is ever here for my birthday."

"What day?" she asked, wondering if anyone else knew about his birthday.

"The thirty-first," he replied, shuffling the cards for the next round. His eyes were cast down, focusing intently on the task at hand.

"Well then," she smiled, "I'm glad I'm here."