Five years. Five years since their Sorting into Slytherin. Aislin mused as she released the books she'd been using to their proper shelves. She'd been right in thinking they would reign over Slytherin. Once Tom had revealed his Parseltongue talent, he had been accepted instantly and revered by all of Slytherin House. She, on the other hand, hadn't joined him until mid-first year, after her eleventh birthday, when she discovered her control over the shadows and her affinity for Necromancy. The two had control over all of Slytherin, but they never abused the privilege, choosing instead to slowly change people's perceptions of the Slytherin house. They had reached out to the other houses, making friends with Minerva Farleigh and Charlus Potter in Gryffindor, Jamie McGonagall and Dorea Black in Ravenclaw, and Desdemona Barklin and Dylan Diggory in Hufflepuff. They were close friends, though pairs were closer than others. Tom and Aislin were obviously closer to each other, while Jamie and Minerva and Charlus and Dorea were closer. Desdemona and Dylan fought a lot, but were best friends.

Aislin and Tom had influenced each year beneath them to make friends with open-minded people in other houses; now there were several study groups and close friendships between Slytherins and other house members.

However, now that they were turning sixteen (at least, Tom and Aislin were, all the others had already turned sixteen), they were already well into puberty and beginning to eye the other sex with genuine interest. Jamie had already asked Minnie (Minerva; though she pretended to hate the nickname) to the Christmas Hogsmeade trip. Charlus was taking Dorea to meet his parents for the holidays (they had been dating seriously for over a year), while Des and Dylan were bound by marriage contract and were casually dating, having fun as friends before they got serious. Tom had never seemed particularly interested in girls or guys, but she had seen him watching Astraea Malfoy with a slight gleam in his eyes. She had realized this with a slight pain in her chest, but dismissed it. They were like brother and sister, closer than close. She needn't worry about Astraea Malfoy.

Aislin herself had glanced at boys in her year and above, but not much longer than in passing. They just didn't peak her interest – not like Tom did. Aislin caught herself with a shake of her head.

It was soon Winter Solstice (or Christmas) holidays. Charlus, Dorea, Des, and Dylan had left on the train home, ready for a luxurious break. Jamie and Minnie were still interested in each other and had gone out to be alone together several times, including today. It was Christmas Day, the day of Winter Solstice. Tom, Aislin, and Astraea Malfoy were the only three in all of Slytherin House who had stayed for the holidays, and Tom and Aislin were sitting by the tree, unwrapping presents from their friends and well-wishers. Astraea had already left for breakfast, but not before wishing them both a Happy Solstice and pseudo-casually brushing the back of her hand on Tom's cheek.

Aislin had already unwrapped her share of presents from their well-wishers in Slytherin and was now starting on the gifts from their circle of close friends. She unfolded the wrapping paper carefully on these, wanting to save them. She did the same every year. The first present she received was from Des, and it turned out to be a beautiful wooden lap-desk, polished until it shone. Dylan sent her a companion quill, ink, parchment, and stationary set. From Charlus she got a rare book on Necromancy that she had been looking for from his family library and from Dorea she received a pair of black lace gloves with the fingertips cut off and dark purple translucent rose-patterned tights with a short, flared black skirt. A note that accompanied them suggested that she might use these to catch herself a man and she laughed quietly. Fun-loving Jamie gifted her with an encyclopedia of stealth-related charms with a note at the end that said that she should obviously use these to prank Montague for him – pretty please? Minnie's present was the last one she opened and she unwrapped it to reveal a white clothing box. Curious, because Minnie usually sent her books, she peeked inside. The moment she caught the gist of what, exactly, was in the box, she slammed the top on with a muffled squeak.

Tom glanced up at her curiously from where he had been opening his own presents. Her face was scarlet as she blushed furiously. His eyes traveled down to the white box she had just opened and he raised an eyebrow, reaching across to look at what had made his best friend so obviously embarrassed. He was met with resistance as Aislin drew away the box, shaking her head rapidly. Even more curious, he slyly withdrew his hand, glancing at her through the corner of his eyes as she relaxed slightly, still bright red. Then, extremely quickly, he snagged the box and drew it towards him in a moment. Aislin's eyes widened and she lunged across the remains of wrapping paper, reaching out to grab it back. Tom, caught off-guard, tumbled backward holding the box away from Aislin as she straddled his waist, reaching over him, trying to take it back. He flipped over underneath her so he was on his stomach and could more easily open the box. Hurrying, he ripped the top off of it and pulled out the first piece of clothing, holding it up. Aislin noticed and she shrieked in embarrassment and buried her face in her hands. Tom was dumbstruck.

He held a lacy, midnight blue, string bikini-style piece of underwear in his hands. Aislin whimpered as he turned over, shifting backwards slightly until her back touched his thighs. Her face was still hidden in her hands, though he could see traces of her bright red skin. He smirked to himself, though he was still surprised at his friend. "So…you're a string bikini kind of girl?"

Aislin pulled her head out of her hands and glared at him, smacking his chest with her hand. "I hate you Tom Riddle," she muttered, grabbing the bottom out of his grasp and stowing it away in the box. "Oh, don't put it away," he smirked. "I was so looking forward to seeing the other half." Aislin glared half-heartedly and shoved him lightly before settling down, still on his lap, leaning against his thighs. "Is it your turn then?"

Tom looked at her blankly for a moment before grinning and Aislin's eyes widened as she realized her wording and shook her head. "You know that's not what I meant." Tom smiled at her and pulled out his wand, summoning a small box from underneath the tree. "Go on then," he said, handing her the box, but she shook her head and summoned her own present from the same place. "Same time, yes?"

He nodded and began to open it slowly, preserving the wrapping paper. Hers were the only ones he did this with. He finally revealed a small black box, and inside it, he found a silver chain with a silver square-shaped locket hanging from it. Glancing up at Aislin, he met her silvery eyes with a small smile. A delicate silver chain and oval-shaped locket hung from her fingers. "It looks like great minds think alike, as usual." She teased. "Go on, open it."

Tom carefully pressed down on the clasp and it sprung open. Inside was a miniature magical painting of the two of them, and on the left side elegant script read "Fire and Ice". He looked up at her with a quiet smile. "It's beautiful. Now open yours."

Aislin gently edged the locket open and gasped quietly as a haunting melody tinkled from it. It played the saddest, but most beautiful song she had ever heard, and a small projection of the two of them appeared just above the locket. The magical holograms hugged each other, then mini-Aislin shrieked with musical laughter as mini-Tom tickled her. Aislin gazed at it in wonder, then looked down at Tom.

"I…I don't know what to say." She said quietly as she gazed into his dark blue eyes. A faint pink coloured his cheeks. "Thank you so much Tom. It's amazing." He merely nodded and turned his eyes back to the magical miniature as she gently snapped shut the clasp and settled the chain around her neck.

They spent the rest of the day together.

Over the years, the old quill had lain practically useless, but that day it picked itself once more, and after dipping itself into the inkwell, it slowly scratched out the following, just under its last entry.

Tom Marvolo Riddle (vampire dominant: Riddle line) and Aislin Victoria Swann-Thanatos (faerie submissive: Thanatos line): Secondary Contact; Second Bond Completed