Chapter 13:
The snake slithered closer, its tongue dangerously close to Nicole's cheek. "You will not harm her," Tom began in a hiss.
The basilisk recoiled. "It is your mate then."
Tom resisted the urge to look it in the eyes. He gave a look of confusion. Nicole looked up at him. "What is it saying?" She sounded fearful.
He did not respond to her, instead he spoke again to the basilisk. "Yes," he stated uncertainly.
The basilisk's eyes flickered. "I have never seen a woman before."
"Her name is Nicole," Tom was a bit calmer now.
The basilisk seemed to nod. "Why does she not speak to me?" it inquired in a cold, raspy voice. Nicole clung more tightly to Tom.
Tom looked down at her. "She doesn't speak parseltongue."
"No? How unfortunate, very unfortunate." It slithered again towards her. "Do I frighten her?"
Tom spoke again. "Yes."
The basilisk emitted something that sounded a tad bit like a chuckle. "Mhmm, if you would my master. What year is this year?"
"Nineteen forty three," Tom replied, a feeling of satisfaction arose when the beast called him 'master'.
If the basilisk had eyelids, no doubt its eyes would have widened. "So long! So very long! So much time spent here master, so much. I thought I might turn to ash and be gone before a descendent of Salazar did arrive. Lonely days these have been since his departure, the friends I managed; the garden snakes, the occasional wandering black snake, all have passed master." Nicole whimpered, and Tom shushed her softy. "Tell me if it pleases you master, need muggleborns and filth be purged? I am eager to assist. What wonders wait outside these walls…"
Tom put up his hand. "No!" he spoke in a clear, firm voice. "I can't risk exposure. Not yet."
The basilisk nodded. "Waited hundreds of years master. If more time is what you ask, I shall oblige. My years are running short I must warn. Another three hundred years and I will be released from my mortal coil, into the Earth, master."
"Your years will not be spent wallowing here, I assure you basilisk. I ask only months until I can form a plan." Tom hissed.
"Very well master, and if it does please you, if it does not then never the matter, twas Salazar who named me. Lucan, master." The basilisk hissed.
"Lucan then," Tom began. "We must leave the Chamber."
"I shall be honored master, to escort you and your mate above."
Tom turned to Nicole. "It's all right. He won't harm you." Nicole looked up at him uncertainly. "We need him to exit the chamber, avert your eyes and climb on his back." She looked shocked at the suggestion, but did as he requested, and he followed suit.
The basilisk was surprisingly quick and agile. It moved through the debris with ease, heading towards the pipe they'd fallen down from, and began slithering up it, its scales seemed to grip themselves to the metal. Tom was still in awe of his discovery. What a magnificent creature Lucan was.
It slid onto the cold hard lavatory floor, glancing thoughtfully at its dimly lit surroundings. Tom and Nicole dismounted. "You must leave, return to the Chamber. I will come to summon you when the need arises." Tom ordered, and Lucan began to slither back towards the Chamber.
Nicole gave a sigh of relief when Lucan's body had disappeared from sight. "How are we going to close it?" she asked, gesturing towards the opening after a moment of silence.
Tom looked at it, concentrated intently and hissed "Close." The sinks began to reposition themselves, and he gave a look of smugness.
"Well," Nicole began, still in shock, her voice shaky. "I suppose that take's care of that."
Tom turned to her, walking towards. "Indeed."
"So…" she started nonchalantly. "What did it say?"
"He, Lucan actually." Tom corrected her.
"So what did Lucan say?" Nicole asked again in anticipation.
Tom's lips curled into a devious smile. "It's quite late, we should return to our dormitories.
Nicole's eye's widened. "Tom!"
Tom walked further towards her. "Keep your voice down," he whispered.
She was visibly frustrated. "What did he say?" she repeated yet again in an anxious whisper.
"There will be time for that later," he was enjoying himself a bit too much.
She eyed him, but her glare had no effect. "Fine then," she muttered, and pointed her finger up towards his face. "But you will tell me." Tom concealed a grin. The two turned towards the door, and it swung open softly.
They kissed one another goodbye and headed towards their separate dormitories. Nicole knocked on the painting that sealed the common room lightly. The robust woman lifted an eyelid. "Password?"
"Snidget," she muttered, and the painting flung open. She thought surely all would be in bed by now, it was nearing midnight. However, a rather large figure was crouching on his knees under an armchair.
"Here Aragog," the figure whispered in a rather boyish voice for one so large.
"Rubeus?" Nicole asked curiously, stepping forward.
The figure jumped suddenly, hitting its head. The figure stood and it was in fact, Rubeus Hagrid. "Nicole," he began looking quite nervous. "What're ye doin' up so late?" He patted down his hair with his large hands, his eyes moved shiftily about.
"Oh," Nicole laughed trying to give herself time to make up a good excuse. "I, um, I was in the kitchens. You see one of the house elves wanted to talk to me, and I tried them earlier today and they were busy with dinner and then I forgot and I didn't want them to you know, think I didn't care, so that's where I was." She sighed, wondering whether or not Rubeus would believe her.
Rubeus scratched his chin. "Oh," he nodded in understanding.
Nicole decided to change the subject. "What about you?"
Rubeus gave a nervous chuckle. "Well, I erm, I lost somfin."
Nicole walked a bit closer. "Aragog?" she suggested.
Rubeus looked increasingly uncomfortable. "Yeah, err, it's nothin' important."
Nicole shrugged her shoulders. "I could help you look for it if you like."
Rubeus shook his head. "No, I'll err, I'll find it."
She eyed him suspiciously. Rubeus never was a very accomplished liar. However she was far to tired to interrogate him. She wasn't exactly in the best position either. "Okay then," she gave a half smile and headed towards the stairs. She turned her head and saw Rubeus back to fumbling around the common room. She made a mental note of this, it might just prove to come in handy later.