"1 day until the Christmas holidays." Harlow said whilst stretching. "Are any of you staying?"

Ron, who had been hesitantly invited by Hermione, turned to face Harlow. "Yeah. My parents are visiting my brother Charlie in Romania. He works with dragons now you know?"

"Any chance I can meet him?" Julian was thoroughly interested in dragons, more-so their uses in potions.

"Hm, I dunno." Ron shrugged awkwardly.

"Well Ron, at least you'll be staying with your brothers right?" Hermione prodded.

"Yeah, though they'll probably be in detention half the time. Yesterday they got in trouble for throwing snowballs at the back of Professor Quirrel's head." Ron covered his mouth to stifle his laughter.

An exasperated sigh came from Hermione.

'Throwing a snowball at the Dark Lord.' The very thought made Harry feel queasy and ridiculous simultaneously. He could feel Tom shaking his head.

"I'm also staying." Going back to the Durselys was not an entertaining idea.

'You must alert Dumbledore of your living conditions. I doubt he would approve of them if he knew.'

'He left you in the orphanage Tom..'

A headache quickly formed. Anger ran rampant in Tom's own thoughts. Harry winced in pain but luckily none of his friends noticed. Finally, the pain subsided. 'It's different. He wasn't headmaster in my time. How could he do anything?'

'I'll consider it.'

'Thank you Harry.' Some-what relieved, Tom decided to continue listening to the conversation.

"Do you know if any other Ravenclaws are staying?" Asked Susan.

"Mandy Brocklehurst and Anthony Goldstein in my year. Marcus Belby and I think 3 others from higher up are staying."

Julian joked half-heartedly,"Don't destroy the dormitory whilst we're gone Harry." Harry smirked threateningly at Julian, who quickly paled.

Harlow watched the interaction with mild amusement.

Soon, Harry excused himself.

He thought back to the recent potions lesson they had. They had been given to task of creating the Wiggenweld potion and he had almost put in the Dittany without shredding it had Susan not pointed it out.

'You still need to practice your focus. Had Susan not been there you would have created a rather messy mistake.'

'I've tried! But I can't stop getting distracted. It's all so...amazing.' Harry admitted. Magic was still incredible despite the time since he discovered it. And there was still much he didn't know.

'That's the reason why I believe you should learn Occlumency. I myself learnt it during my fifth year.' Making sure that nobody would realise his plans was important. Especially as Dumbledore had become more insistant on checking up on him.

'I thought you said you would show me next year?'

'Voldemort is a risk I had not accounted when I said that. Now, protecting your mind is much more urgent than before.'

Harry nodded. It was sound reasoning.

He entered an abandoned classroom, closing the door behind him.

"Colloportus." The door locked itself.

'So what do I need to do?'

'Sit down and clear your mind.'

Harry sat on the cold stone floor reluctantly. He closed his eyes. 'Focus on your breathing.'

It took a few tries before Harry felt an odd sensation, as if he was floating in darkness. Tom hoped that his own influence over Harry's mind would make this easier. He attempted to look in Harry's memories yet they all appeared to be covered with a strange fog. 'Don't worry Harry, I'll be gentle.' Pain didn't need to be a part of learning Occlumency.

'Focus on this empty feeling. Think of nothing but it.' Harry followed the instructions.

The memory Tom was peering into started to fade, the voices becoming more muffled. Harry's breathing and heartbeat started to slow down. All-encompassing darkness spread throughout Harry's mind.

Footsteps outside broke his concentration and the darkness vanished.

'Well done Harry.' Tom congratulated. 'But you mustn't be distracted so easily. Try again.'

It took another 2 hours before Harry had managed to sustain his attention. This time, Tom saw all the memories disappear within the obscure darkness. It whispered at Tom, suggesting that he too should hide in its cover.

A smirk pulled at his lips. This sort of quick learning is what made Tom acknowledge that Harry could be built into something greater than himself. It was the same sort of determination that Harry was experiencing now that Tom had felt in his own youth. The determination to over-achieve and rise above all others. Tom knew it was the fire that he had felt within Harry after their encounter with the mirror.

'Now you must build a mental defence. Hiding your thoughts and memories will not always be enough when confronted with strong Legilimency.'

Harry seemed to gain a corporal form within his own mind. He looked at Tom oddly. 'So this is what my mind looks like during Occlumency.'

'This is simply how barren it always looks.' Tom joked, only to be winded as Harry punched his chest. 'Point taken.' He mumbled through his attempts to gather non-existent air.

'So how do I make a mental defense?'

Having gathered enough 'air' to speak, Tom explained. 'Some construct basic things such as walls which are crashed into when someone attempts to look into your mind. Therefore even if your mind is not clear you will feel something and gave more time to retaliate the mental attack.'

'Would they see you?'

'I am a part of your soul but since I reside within your mind they would. I am separated from the entirety of your soul but there is a link between us. If I were to be damaged then it would inflict damage upon your own soul too.'

Harry paled. Tom brushed his hands through Harry's hair in an attempt to comfort him.

'They'd be fools to try and attack me.' He said arrogantly. Harry hugged him. The close contact always brought a certain joy and love that Tom couldn't remember ever feeling during his time alive.

After a few appreciative, silent seconds, they pulled away from eachother.

'Perhaps we should continue this once the Christmas holidays have begun. Enjoy the time you have left with your friends.'

Harry disappeared from his mind.

Each took turns to hug each other goodbye as they left Hogwarts.

"We'll miss you guys." Harry and Ron said together.

"We'll miss you too Harry, Ron." They spoke back.

"It's not like we'll be gone too long." Hermione spoke in both a endearing yet factual manner.

Harry spotted Draco and waved goodbye to him. "I'll make sure to send you a gift from father, Harry."

"Thank you Draco. I'll get you something too."

With that they all departed, following Hagrid to Hogsmeade Station.

"You can now say you're going to be spending Christmas with Snape."

Ron almost turned green. "No thanks."

They made their way back inside the castle.

"Fred and George still have detention until tomorrow." Ron said glumly. "Want me to teach you Wizard's Chess?"

It seemed fun so Harry agreed to participate.

It, surprisingly, wasn't too different to regular chess.

Ron won the initial few rounds but soon after they started drawing and Harry even won a few.

"You won't beat me next time. You're bloody great at this game."

Harry blushed at the compliment as he set his pieces back into place.

After a few more matches, Ron suggested going out into the snow. Unknowingly, Fred and George had been there waiting to see if they'd get lucky and hit Snape with a snow ball. As soon as they spotted the two boys they had pelted the snowballs towards them.

"DUCK!" Harry yelled as he crouched down. Ron swiftly did the same.

"Not very good sportsmanship."

"Little Ronny-kins won't escape" Fred started.

"This time!" George finished, gathering up more snowballs.

Deciding to entertain the ongoing snow war, Tom spoke. 'Harry, you are admist dangerous enemies. I've been training you for this.' Though his tone was serious, his face sported a large grin. Perhaps so much time alone with Harry had allowed him to rediscover the childish side of him he never got to see.

'Affirmative.' Harry thought back. "Come on Ron. Let's show them not to mess with us." Ron laughed and started cupping snow in his hands.

Harry threw a snowball which impacted George's face. A mischievous cackle escaped his snow-caked face. "Seems like Harry-kins also wants to play."

Fred ran towards them and tackled both of them into the snow.

Managing to wiggle away, Harry tried to throw a few snowballs at Fred meanwhile dodging George's own attacks. Ron grabbed a fistful of snow and managed to throw it up his brother's nose.

"Foul." Whined Fred as he got off of Ron to sneeze rather violently.

Dumbledore and McGonogall watched from one of the windows.

"It's a delight to know that even in these times, children can still be children." Dumbledore had a soft twinkle in his eye.

"But Albus, why aren't you going after Quirrell, if he is aligned with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" McGonagall looked to the side in worry.

"Our students are not learning anything from his lessons."

Dumbledore turned his eyes away from the snowball fight.

"Minerva, I would not have allowed Quirinus to continue without reason. You know that the students are my top priority." He smiled kindly. "I allow Quirinus to stay to show them that they cannot always rely on someone to show them the answers but must instead seek them. Independence is key."

McGonogall understood but could not shake the slight anxiety at having a servant of the dark lord within the school, except Severus.

"Do not worry my dear." Dumbledore put a supportive hand on her shoulder before turning back to the fight.

For breakfast the next morning, instead of the usual four house tables, there was a singular table with a few of the professors in the middle.

Harry ended up sat next to Dumbledore with Ron, who was sat next to his siblings, infront of him.

"What do you have planned for today Ron?"

"I'm planning on defeating Anthony again in chess." Ron proudly stuffed a forkful of pancake into his mouth.

"And we plan on" George leaned forwards. "Creating mischief." Fred then leaned forwards too.

Dumbledore coughed politely with a knowing smile. Harry smirked and bit his cheek so he wouldn't laugh.

Fred and George blinked before giving an abashed grin.

"Kidding" Fred coughed.

"of course." George winked at Harry.

Harry enjoyed his breakfast slowly, waving goodbye as Ron and the twins left.

'I remember you said you wanted to show me something Tom?'

'Well remembered. Once you finish your breakfast just follow me.' Tom manifested into the seat where Ron had previously sat. His expression was serious yet a tad nervous.

Dumbledore looked at Harry, who was smiling at empty space, curiously.

"How are you Harry?"

Harry, jolting out of his thoughts, turned to face him. "I'm well Professor Dumbledore, thanks. How are you?"

"I am doing very well, just got myself a new card." Dumbledore smiled whilst showing Harry a card out of a chocolate frog container.

"Helga Hufflepuff." Harry whispered.

"Indeed, I finally have all 4 of the founders."

"Tell me Harry, would you mind joining an old man in a game of exploding snap?"

'I'm not even alive and he still meddles with my plans unknowingly.' Tom scowled.

"Sorry professor, I made some plans. Maybe next time?"

"Of course Harry, I do hope you have fun."

"Thank you Professor."

Harry left the Great Hall and followed Tom through the corridors.

'Where are we going?'

'The abandoned girl's lavatory.'

'... Sorry Tom.. What?' Harry found himself thoroughly perplexed.

'Stop asking questions Harry. Patience.'

Time passed quietly as they made their way up to the next floor.

Upon entering, a ghost suddenly flew by him.

"Hello?"

"Come to make fun of dead, moaning Myrtle?" Myrtle moaned before screeching and disappearing.

'What's her problem?'

Tom looked guilty before carefully swapping his expression. Harry made sure to file that away for later.

'So what do I do now?' Being in a girl's bathroom was not what he was expecting.

'Go up to the sink and say open in parseltongue.'

Hesitantly, Harry followed his instructions.

"Open."

The serpent-decorated sink shifted apart to reveal a tunnel.

Harry saw Tom peering into the darkness with veiled satisfaction.

'You need to jump down.'

He looked at Tom with reluctance.

'You can trust me.' Tom lightly ruffled Harry's hair.

Gathering up his courage, Harry jumped down. The pipe continued for a few seconds before Harry rolled onto the ground.

Tom lead him across the craggy underground. The air was damp and a large body of peeled skin lay across the ground.

'It appears she has already shed.' Tom inspected the skin.

Looking at the skin, Harry deduced it was a large snake.

'Precisely. But to be more specific it is a basilisk. I discovered her in my last year at Hogwarts.'

Harry soon approached a circular gate and once again spoke to it in parseltongue. 'This architecture is impressive.'

Tom smiled at Harry's fascination. 'It was built by Salazar Slytherin, unbeknownst to the other three founders.'

The chamber had a path with serpent statues lined across the sides, a large statue of Salazar Slytherin's head loomed above. Harry found himself breathless. Admiring the infrastructure, he caressed the particular detail on the statues.

'I wonder how the basilisk is doing after all this time.' Tom thought to himself. Regret pulled at his soul as he thought of Myrtle. 'That foolish muggleborn shouldn't have intervened.' He scowled at his own conflicting morals.

'Where is the basilisk?' Harry asked

'Repeat after me Harry. Hear me, Salazar Slytherin, greatest of the hogwarts four.'

The mouth of the statue opened, releasing the basilisk.

'Close your eyes Harry!' Tom shouted urgently.

"A ssspeaker?"

Harry nodded. "I am the descendent of Salazar Slytherin."

"An heir to my massster. Open your eyes, young master, I shall not harm you."

Harry opened his eyes and stared at the Basilisk's form. "Thank you. What's your name?" He couldn't recall Tom telling him her name.

"I do not have one." She hissed.

"Do you want one?"

The basilisk dipped it's head and started circling Harry.

Tom brushed his hands against her scales.

He would think up a name for her later. 'Salazar's study is within these walls. I would like you to read up on as many of the books as possible.'

'What subject should I start with?'

Harry asked, petting the basilisk.

'The Dark arts spells. Hogwarts curriculum lacks such knowledge.'

'Knowledge is power.' Harry whispered to himself.

"I'll make sure to bring you food." He said to the basilisk. If only an heir of Salazar could open the chamber, she must not be fed often. Unfortunately, Harry had been familiar with such hunger before he started sneaking around as Tom had insisted.

He bid it goodbye and went into Salazar's study. The books were coated with dust and yellowed with age. Pulling one out of the large mass, he shifted through its delicate pages. Tom paced across the bookshelves before stopping infront of a particular book.

'This one Harry. It fits what I want you to learn for now.'

Harry pulled the book out and placed it in the pockets of his robe.

'How did you discover this Tom?'

'I had found mentions of it across centuries-old books.'

With time to spare, they continued looking through the study as Tom recited legends about the Chamber that he had stumbled upon.

Draco had been telling much to Lucius about Harry.

"I'm impressed that he wasn't put into Gryffindor like his father." Lucius' face contorted into a nasty frown.

"He still speaks with that mudblood Granger and Haven." Draco sneered in disgust . "He'll soon learn that mudbloods aren't worth his time."

"That reminds me father, I planned to purchase Harry a Christmas gift. I don't expect that he enjoyed his own living with muggles."

Lucius pondered the idea. His master, should he come back, would approve of gaining the Potter boy's trust if only to get rid of him faster.

"If you must Draco."

Potter seemed to be more interesting than he previously thought. 'Ravenclaw. I doubt Severus was pleased.'

Draco smiled, pleased at his father's response.

The next day Draco had gone to Knockturn Alley and purchased Harry a rare snake. He was aware of Harry's fascination with serpents after many discussions between them. The price of this particular snake assured that his present would be far above any others he would recieve, as was it expected of a Malfoy.

Narcissa had approved of the gift after being convinced. "You know snakes are frowned upon. Are you sure giving one to the boy who defied the dark lord is wise?"

"He likes them." Draco responded with a shrug.

For the rest of his associates such as Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy he put much less thought into it. They were not truly friends but instead much like his followers. He cared not for them, except perhaps a bit for Blaise who seemed to have more sense than the rest.