Note: So, it's been two months and I haven't posted a thing. I've been slacking, but not without reason. I've had a lot on my plate lately, wouldn't really care to elaborate. Fell as though I might be getting back in the swing of things. I won't keep you waiting to much longer for another update, promise.

Chapter 16:

The attacks were increasing. Twelve more students had been paralyzed, dozens sent home to their parents, most of them muggleborns. The end of the school year was approaching and the teachers were all on edge. The Herbology teacher had managed to grow enough mandrakes to reverse the effects of the now fourteen students, but the potion would take a few days.

The security measures taken were never tighter, though Tom was still able to communicate with Lucan the basilisk through the pipes. It was becoming increasingly difficult the past few weeks. Professor Dumbledore had been watching him like a hawk, and Kaiser's eyes seemed to follow him wherever he went. Worse he hadn't spoken to Nicole since the first victims were attacked; he feared he might have lost her.

It was becoming too risky to repeat the attacks under these circumstances. He would have to contact the basilisk in person. He decided to skip lunch in the Great Hall, heading straight for the girl's lavatory. It was seemingly empty, and he stepped forward.

"I am the heir of Slytherin," he hissed, and the sinks began to move yet again. There was a soft hissing sound that came from inside the pipe, more like a crooning sound. The basilisk slithered toward him, its eyes towards the ground. "You summoned me master?"

Tom gave a glimmer of a smile. After all these months he still hadn't groan tired of being addressed as 'master'. "Yes. I've come to say goodbye to you more or less." He hissed.

There was a noise coming from one of the stalls, and they both turned. The basilisk went towards it curious. The stall opened revealing a girl in Ravenclaw robes and glasses, she was in tears. Tom nodded to the basilisk. "Kill it."

"This is the girl's bathroom. Go awa—"She looked up into the golden eyes of the basilisk and froze, falling dead onto the toilet.

Tom walked towards, his eyes widened. "Well…" he began looking down at the deceased Ravenclaw. "I was rather hoping to avoid that."

The basilisk turned towards him, keeping its head down. "You are displeased?"

Tom looked concerned. "It will raise heads, that's to be certain." He shook his head. He was hoping desperately his father would be his first murder. However he could go on with making his first horcrux now, he was a step closer to immortality, he could practically feel it. He turned his attention back to the basilisk. "You have served me well Lucan. You must return to the Chamber of Secrets, and remain there."

Lucan nodded. "If it pleases you master," the snake sulked back towards the large pipe and disappeared into it. In all honesty, he was quite disappointed. He hadn't even been outside of the castle. Perhaps his day would come when a new heir would arrive, he could breathe in fresh air, witness a sunrise. Or perhaps he would never see outside the castle walls and would die without ever achieving any semblance of freedom. He felt he really didn't have much say in the matter.

When Tom had closed the Chamber, for good this time, he turned again to the Ravenclaw girl's dead body, swearing at himself. This shouldn't have happened like this. He was angry, angry at the girl for being there, for opening the stall. She had deprived him an extra ounce of pleasure that would come with disposing of him muggle father. "I hope you're at least a mudblood." He replied looking down at her with disgust.

He couldn't leave quickly enough. He didn't need the body to make a horcrux. He had already, though indirectly killed, which would suffice on its own. He headed towards the door, opening it to find Kaiser standing right in front of him. He jumped back, surprised by this. "You. What are you doing here?" Tom demanded instantly. Kaiser simply continued to stare. "I asked you a question," he remarked in a much colder, controlled voice.

"I followed you," he stated. Tom had never heard him speak before. His voice was oddly deep for someone so small.

Tom raised his wand towards the boy. "I should kill you where you stand." Though menacing, he was nervous. Kaiser had discovered him at the scene of the first death to come from the attacks. They could hang him for this, or more likely sentence him to life in Azkaban.

Kaiser averted his eyes. "I don't wish to expose you," he looked up, seeming quite nervous himself.

Tom gave a laugh. "Expose me for what exactly?"

Kaiser continued onward, as if he had not just been interrupted. "I admire you. I've heard of your aims to eliminate the impure from Hogwarts. I wish to join you."

"Where did you hear such things?" Tom asked, his anger now outweighing his fear of being caught.

Kaiser lowered his head. "I overheard you talking to Cygnus Black and Abraxas Malfoy." He shifted uncomfortably. "I heard you, now, from outside the lavatory." He looked up at him. "You're a parselmouth."

Tom's eyes flickered. Could he keep nothing quiet? Where had this little prat come from, anyhow? He, who prized himself in keeping secrets was moments away from having himself exposed, hung out to dry, taken away by those horrid beasts called Dementors. Kaiser would know, he would know when they found the body, he couldn't hide it. His head was swimming. No, this can't be the end. I've worked too hard, and too long for it to all go to waste now.

Should he kill him? Here and now? Quick and clean, be done with the matter? But he couldn't, he would become suspect in their murders, his wand would be checked for prior spells. Maybe if he took his wand and made it look like suicide… No, that wouldn't do either.

A loud coughing noise took him away from his thoughts. "You don't have to kill me," Kaiser replied curtly.

Tom hated being told what to do, especially when he was under pressure. "Why shouldn't I?" he spat, his wand pressed against Kaiser's throat.

Kaiser remained eerily calm. "I only wish to help you." There was a pause. Tom most certainly couldn't trust him, but he didn't see any other options. Tom felt a drop of sweat fall from his face.

Kaiser smiled. "It's killed, hasn't it?" he asked. Tom remained silent, still trying to sort out what he was going to do. "The beast, know it's a snake, dunno what kind," Kaiser said thoughtfully. "I won't tell anyone," Kaiser looked up, shaking. Tom could see Kaiser wasn't sure what he was going to do either.

Tom lowered his wand. He had made his decision, there was no other option. "Tell a soul what has transpired here tonight…" he began in a cold, voice, his eyes fixed upon Kaiser's. "And I shall do worse than kill you. Whether dead, or in Azkaban, trust my followers will find you, and make you suffer beyond comprehension." He awaited some sort of response from Kaiser who had forced himself to nod. "Good," Tom gave a menacing smile, his muscles relaxing. He could control this boy, if anyone could, Voldemort could.

He and Kaiser walked back towards the dungeons, neither speaking a word to one another. Kaiser muttered the password "Hippogriff feathers," and they each retreated to their separate dormitories. Tom did not rest that night, if anything were to go wrong, anything at all, he'd be finished. His hands were at the mercy of someone else, a feeling he hoped he would never again have to endure. He couldn't control the overwhelming panic that had taken him in the girl's lavatory. He sat there, under his covers, his eyes open, staring at the ceiling hoping half heartedly for some sort of solution.

At some point in the night Tom must have fallen asleep, for he was suddenly being shaken awake quite violently. "Tom! Tom!"

"Get off me!" He yelled quite forcefully, taking his wand from his bedside table. He looked to see Abraxas backing away cautiously, wiggling in a nervous fashion as though he were bursting to tell him something. "Well?" He said impatiently.

"A mudblood, she's been killed," Abraxas spoke not with pity, or with anything that could be described as joy, but what appeared to be fear.

Tom did not answer, merely got up from his bed, his eyes not moving from Abraxas. "Anything else?"

Abraxas looked taken aback by this, and shifted uncomfortably. "We're supposed to get dressed, and head towards the grand hall. The Headmaster has an announcement to make."

Tom nodded, getting dressed in a rather hurried manner. He could hear scuffling and panic from outside his dormitory. Really. He thought to himself. The way some lost their heads in such situations, it was pathetic.

Tom followed Abraxas, Cygnus, and a boy called Alan Nott to the Slytherin common room. Pale faced and visibly shaken, Professor Horace Slughorn, beckoned his students towards the Great Hall. He eyed each corridor with suspicion, as though suspecting someone would jump out and attack him. He began to fall in between his students, as to shield himself from being attacked directly. Tom held little respect for his Head of House, he was terribly cowardly.

The Slytherin table had begun to fill with students. The Hufflepuffs were shuffling in now, and the last of the Gryffindors made their way towards their table. Tom looked upon the Ravenclaw table, which seemed the most shaken out of the four houses. Tom knew in an instant why, the girl he had killed had belonged to their house.

Armando Dippet looked quite ill. Ever since the attacks had begun he had been losing weight. He had become a mere shadow of his former, confident self. He dabbed his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief, looking upon his students. "I must, most regretfully announce," his voice faltered, his eyes fell to the floor, unable to look upon his pupils. "The death of Myrtle Gaines, of the Ravenclaw house."

There were gasps, looks of bewilderment. Some of the younger children could be seen shaking with fear. Even, to Tom's surprise, the Slytherin house had a reaction. His eyes fixed for a moment on a second year girl named Olive Hornby, who was tearing.

Armando took another moment to compose himself. "It is now, that I regret to inform you that Hogwarts School is no longer safe. Exams have been cancelled, and Hogwarts School will be closed."

More gasps. Tom almost leapt to his feet. Hogwarts closed? This was outrageous. "The Hogwarts train will arrive in three days to take all of you home," Armando continued in a throaty voice. "Until that time it is imperative you are in view of a teacher at all times and take all necessary precautions."

There were murmurs around him, some filled with the same outrage Tom was feeling. "The mandrake has matured, and those who have been petrified will be returned to their former states as soon as the potion is completed, in a day's time." His eyes began to water. "If anyone knows anything that could lead to the capture of this perpetrator, I beg you come forward."

Nicole shifted uncomfortably in her seat, staring at the horrified faces of those surrounding her. A girl is dead. A girl has died. It was the end of Hogwarts.