Chapter 21

"The world was on fire and no one could save me but youIt's strange what desire will make foolish people doI never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like youAnd I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you...What a wicked game to playTo make me feel this wayWhat a wicked thing to doTo let me dream of you

What a wicked thing to sayYou never felt this wayWhat a wicked thing to doTo make me dream of you

No, I don't wanna fall in loveNo, I don't wanna fall in loveWith you"Wicked Game, Ursine Vulpine & Annaca

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During the supper she often checked the entrance, hoping to spot some familiar figure. Until she noticed some Slytherin boys trying to catch her attention. She recognized Tom's Knights.

Avery instructed her that she had to hurry to meet Tom near the entrance doors.Something was wrong, she immediately realized. If he talked to his Knights to make her reach that place, he wasn't injured. The Knights were only his spies, they were never involved directly with the Chamber stuff. Walking slowly away from the safe Great Hall, Evelyn realized that if Tom had to close the story of the Chamber and keep it safe, he needed to get rid of the only person who also knew about it. And that person was her. Evelyn started to sweat cold. If the basilisk would kill also a pureblood like her, nobody would believe again that the attacks were meant only for the muggle borns. But she knew too much. And Tom wasn't someone who would easily trust people. She was a prefect. So people would think that she found the culprit of the attacks but was killed in the duel.Evelyn winced when suddenly a hand grabbed her wrist and dragged her behind a statue."What the hell are you doing?" Tom hissed checking that nobody saw them "What did they tell you?"."What happened?" She asked noticing that he was somehow shocked.He sighed heavily, brushing a hand on his face "I did what I told you, but... It happened so fast. She's dead".Evelyn gaped at his words "What?"."A mudblood is dead" he said coldly turning his gaze to her.She opened her mouth to breath. Those words were strangling her "You promised...".He impatiently grabbed her shoulders and hissed into her ear "She almost found out about the basilisk. She had to die. She saw his eyes and she was gone. I couldn't stop it".She stepped back clumsily, to stare at him in shock "So it's over? A murder won't stay unpunished. They will find out about the basilisk and kill it or they will close the school"."I'll plan something. Don't do anything, do not speak to anyone about this or we are both fucked" he said in a menacing tone."Tom, we will get expelled or worse locked into Azkaban!" Evelyn felt tears into her eyes but she didn't care."I won't let it happen. Trust me, okay? Let me fix it all" he tried to place his hands on her again, but she moved away."No, we need to be ready! Somehow they will get to us and use the Veritaserum on us!"."It's illegal" he said promptly."They can make an exception. Can't you imagine how things will change now because of this?"."I can, so please just calm down and don't forsake me. I need your help" he forced her to stop her confused walking and to look into his determined eyes "I couldn't tell you this in the Great Hall. Now we need both to calm down, we will go back there and pretend nothing happened. Can you do this?"."I'm not sure" she said honestly "And when someone will find out?"."Just don't overreact, okay? It's not your fault. I am the one who involved you in this, so don't panic. The Chamber is closed now, this story is over. So don't let this final accident blow it all up".Evelyn didn't even ask who died, she realized when they walked back to the Great Hall, where everything was still ordinary.

Evelyn sat back at her table, facing the Slytherin table, where Tom kept an eye on her.It was dessert time, but whatever she tasted was so bitter.Everything seemed calmed, until the professor Merrythought, the Head of Ravenclaw, checked the students, then chatted animatedly with Slughorn, who then ordered "Miss Hornby! Go and bring miss Warren here. Now!".Evelyn looked around her table, noticing that Myrtle Warren was missing. She glanced with shock at Tom, who just stared back at her with a blank face.Hornby ran out of the Hall and Evelyn started to count the seconds before the storm. Myrtle was used to hide in the bathrooms. She was an easy target. And she was muggle borns with no relevant potentials.Evelyn had hoped that closing the Chamber would save that poor young Ravenvlaw girl from the crazy plan of the Heir of Slytherin. She couldn't believe that instead she was the last, real victim.

After some minutes new unusual movements influenced the Hall. Soft rumours reached the ears of the teachers, who called the prefects and gave order to lead the students into their respectively dormitories with no questions nor exceptions.

Evelyn obeyed, sharing one last glance with Tom. The students didn't know yet about the dead girl in the bathrooom. They only guessed that another attack happened and some hoped that it was Olive Hornby the victim. Instead she was in the infirmary to recover from the shock and for the teachers to interrogate her.

On the second floor it was clear that something was happening. Nobody could come close to the lavatory and Evelyn was thankful for not seeing any corpse.The way to the Ravenclaw tower was long, but in the end she and her mates sighed with relief when they locked themselves in the tower. Evelyn consulted the Head boy and girl of her House, then they left the tower to go talking with the teachers and offer their help.Slughorn announced in a very low voice that a student died and they were investigating on what happened. But that news was enough to scare also the Head boys and girls to death. Most of the prefects moved back to their dormitories. Tom didn't walk down to the dungeons, but moved upstairs. Slughorn asked Evelyn to stay and questioned her about Myrtle Warren, although she knew very little. Myrtle had no close friends and Evelyn knew nothing about her family. The teacher managed anyway to send an owl to her parents. Evelyn glanced nervously at the lavatory. She spotted Dumbledore and other teachers looking for hints, then other wizards from the Ministry and the st Mungo's came to take away the body.Evelyn followed the group, forming a silent procession."You should go back to your tower, miss Burke" Dumbledore said softly moving to her side "This tragedy is shocking"."Is there anything we can do? Maybe it's just some potion, how can she be dead?" She asked trembling."There's nothing we can do. That's what all the wizards agreed on. It was too late" he said patiently stopping by a staircase."But how could that happen?".Dumbledore stared at her with his penetrating gaze, then said tiredly "Maybe we will never know. Armando urges for discretion. The students should only know that the poor girl died for a sad accident. Any further investigation... might be dangerous, or useless".Evelyn understood that the Chamber was safe, but at what price.She was lost in her thoughts, when Dumbledore said loud "What are you doing, wandering around this late, Tom?".Evelyn started and noticed Tom stopping down the staircase, showing an innocent face"I had to see the headmaster, sir" he replied confidently."Well, hurry off to bed" Dumbledore said scanning him like he expected him to confess some of his crimes "Best not to roam the corridors these days. Not since...".The professor sighed heavily and nodded to Evelyn to walk up.Tom was still down there. She crossed his eyes with a questioning look. He just slightly nodded her to go.

Evelyn followed Dumbledore upstairs, they were both less talkative.When they reached the seventh floor, they saw a couple of Gryffindor prefects approaching them."Why are you not in your beds?" Dumbledore asked a bit annoyed."Sir, we noticed that one student is missing. We believed it was our duty to report it to you before going to sleep" the prefect boy said.Evelyn crossed the professor's worried eyes. She didn't know what to expect."And who is missing?" He asked carefully."Hagrid, sir" the prefect girl replied "He wasn't at dinner. His mates said he wanted to stay in the common room, but when we came back he wasn't there. We checked his room and he wasn't there. He is nowhere to be found, sir".Evelyn noticed how rigid Dumbledore turned. He just gave quick instructions and sent them to sleep."You should go to sleep as well" Dumbledore said to the Ravenclaw girl."Do you think Hagrid is involved in the...tragedy, sir?" Evelyn asked swallowing hard."I don't know, Evelyn. Truth seems far from our reach right now" he said sorrowful."Sir, shouldn't we look for Hagrid? He might be in danger as well if he is not the culprit".Dunbledore shot her a questioning look "Are you not willing to go to your safe bed?"."My bed can wait" she replied bravely "I'm so worried I can't sleep anyway"."Alright" Dumbledore surrendered "So let's report to the other professors. Maybe they know something more. Definitely someone like Hagrid can't vanish from the castle and being unnoticed".She agreed and they walked downstairs again.The other teachers weren't happy to learn about Hagrid being missing.Dumbledore was the Head of Gryffindor so he was the main responsible."I always warned you to keep an eye on that boy, Albus. We should have gueased he was involved" professor Merrythought said bitterly."We don't have a clue it is all his fault. Not yet, Galatea"."Then what should we do? Where could he be now?" Slughorn asked."If I may suggest" Evelyn tempted shyly."Speak, dear, speak" Slughorn pushed softly.She shivered under the attentions of the professors and at the thought of what her actions could bring "There were rumours from the Slytherin prefects. They spotted him wandering in the dungeons in forbidden hours in the latest weeks".Slughorn looked troubled too "Those rumours reached my ears too, but without evidences I couldn't punish him"."So let's check the dungeons then" Dumbledore suggested "Galatea, you should go back to our floor and check if nothing bad is happening up there or if Hagrid sneaked back into my tower in the meanwhile".The old teacher agreed and bade goodnight. While Evelyn followed Slughorn and Dumbledore, who were accusing each other for Hagrid's misdeeds.The dungeons were quiet. Evelyn felt almost ashamed for speaking up. She wished Tom was there with them, since he knew about that affair more than she did.After some wandering aimlessly, she heard some soft voices and led the teachers to find the source. Soon the voices turned into roars. She clearly recognized Hagrid's voice. Then a flaming light attracted them to the right corridor.The trio hurried but jumped in fear when something big and dark came running towards them. They moved against the wall and the beast kept running, ignoring them."Merlin's beard, what was that?" Slughorn shouted.Other screams made Evelyn run towards the battlefield and what she saw shocked her. Hagrid jumped against Tom and took his wand away, dragging him down on the floor."Tom!" She screamed joining Hagrid's roar and instinctively waved her wand making the big boy fly away from the Slytherin prefect.She ran to Tom, helping his to stand up."Are you alright?".He nodded coughing."Rubeus" Slughorn whispered incredulous "What have you done?".Evelyn glanced at the Gryffindor half giant, then stared at Tom with fear. Also Tom wasn't supposed to be out of his bed.He just stared back at her, catching his breath."'T wasn't meh. Sir, I swear..." Hagrid stammered, raising his hands, but he was still holding Tom's wand so Slughorn raised his own wand."Give me my wand back" Tom hissed and fearlessly approached the big boy to snatch his wand from his hand.Confused, Evelyn started to panic and retreated to join the two shocked teachers, her shocked eyes fixed on Tom. They were in the middle of something so big that it could cost a very price for both of them."I suggest that you must both go to talk to Dippet and explain him what were you doing out of bed, disobeying his order" Dumbledore said firmly."What about that thing?" Slughorn asked with disgust, then turned to Hagrid "What is that anyway?"."Aragog's mey friend. He never!" Hagrid roared.Slughorn raised his hand, annoyed by his loud voice echoing in the corridor "Enough! You go straight to talk to Dippet now"."You too, Tom. You must explain why you were out of you dormitory when I clearly ordered you to go straight to your bed" Dumbledore added coldly. Evelyn shivered like the order was meant for her too. The coldness in the teacher's voice made her fear that he knew that Tom was the real one involved in the death of Myrtle Warren."Miss Burke, you can go back to your tower" Slughorn said forcing a smile to her "You already helped us a lot tonight. Keep your wand out while you go back up there".She glanced at Dumbledore, who also bade goodnight.Then she crossed Tom's unreadable eyes. She didn't know what was his plan, she feared that leaving him alone speaking to the headmaster meant letting him free to backstab her in order to get out of the mess or dragging her in the same disaster.But she had no plans, she didn't know what to say to the teachers to ask them to go with them to meet the headmaster. She could only obey before breaking some more news.

She walked away, then started to run to reach her tower as fastest as possible. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found herself in her familiar common room, safe and sound. She didn't meet anyone nor anything in her way back.Her mind was filled with questions and fears. She had to sit down. She was so tired she wanted to sleep, but her mind needed to know. She wished she could hear the discussion between the headmaster and the two boys. She needed to know how Tom would get out of that mess. Or if Dippet forced him to drink the Veritaserum and in that same moment Tom was confessing everything, including the role that Evelyn had in all of that.Evelyn started to shake out of control and jumped up to find a way to contain her worries.She also wished to contact her uncle to ask him a way out of there, but the fireplace in the common room was dead at that hour of the night.She hid her face in her hands, when she heard the door opening.She started when she recognized Tom in the shadows."Not here" she ordered peremptory and pushed him out of her tower and into the Room of Requirement."What have you done?" She asked impatiently keeping the distance from him."I fixed it all, as I promised" he said proudly."How?" She crossed her arms."Hagrid confessed that he was keeping that beast. Dippet believes that beast was the responsible of the attacks and the death of that girl. Simple, isn't it?".Evelyn blinked trying to understand how it could be that simple "So we are clean out of this? Do they really believe it was Hagrid for all this time?"."They had evidences. Hagrid isn't even able to speak clearly. Not to mention his long list of misdeeds. Who could ever blame me? Or us?" He approached her slowly with his arrogant smirk, but she slapped him hard as soon as he stepped into her reach.Before his rage could explode, she walked closer to him and pressed her lips on his.He reacted trying to reject her in a first moment, then kissed her fiercely and pushed her against the wall. She moaned when her back banged on the solid stone, just to allow him to deepen the kiss."Why the hell did you dare to slap me?" He hissed biting her bottow lip and staring at her passionately."For making me think that we were fucked" she whispered breathless."Don't you know? I never fail" he smiled evilly, moving to kiss and bite her neck."I think we should go back to your dorms before someone notice that we are missing. We can't get in troubles again" she said pushing him away.He stopped her placing his hands against the wall and trapping her there "You won't leave this room until tomorrow morning".His tone made her understand that it was useless arguing with him. He knew what the risks were and how many rules they were breaking, but was deeply confident that he could get out of any kind of trouble.

On the next day the muggle parents of Myrtle Warren came to the castle. Their sorrow was lightly softened by the news that the culprit had been caught and justice had been made. The students just knew that Myrtle died for some unhappy accident in the lavatory with wet floor. People from the Ministry came to take Hagrid to Azkaban, but Dumbledore fought hard to persuade headmaster Dippet to keep the half giant and train him as gamekeeper.

Evelyn watched the ceremony for Myrtle's loss with a bittersweet feeling. She wanted to feel sorry for Warren's death, she wanted Tom to look for redemption, but they were too soaked into darkness.The final exams required their full effort and time, but Tom was always able to surprise her and persuade her to break rules for some moments of ecstasy. He stopped focusing on the Chamber, so he focused on her. And he was deeply grateful for her being loyal to him even in the most stressing troubles.And she loved being desired by him. Fearing on the egde of losing everything, made her braver. If they could open the Chamber of Secrets, keep the basilisk existence secret, attack students and get away with it without any punishment, then they could do anything.She enjoyed feeling that powerful and safe into the Heir of Slytherin's arms.

Tom received a trophy for special services to the school, with the price of keeping his mouth shut about the real circumstances of Myrtle's death. Something he was reallt glad to do. He was proud to watch his name engraved on the golden award, placed in the Room of Trophies.And the extra points he earned made his House win the Cup of Houses again.

The Mandrake potion was finally ready and healed the petrified students. Tom checked that none of them had any single hint or memory about what petrified them.Then Olive Hornby discovered that Myrtle was back as a ghost, so her days at Hogwarts didn't last much longer. Myrtle's ghost took residence in the lavatory on the second floor making it useless for students, so the secret entrance of the Chamber was safer.

"Did you already pack everything?".Tom's voice caught her by surprise.Evelyn wrapped the roll of parchment she was readying and smiled at him "Yes. It's all ready"."Good" he embraced her from behind and whispered into her ears "Don't think that we won't meet during the holidays. I won't stay into that filthy orphanage for the whole two months, be sure of that"."Glad to hear that"."Of course you are" he chuckled "I have great plans for this summer. And you'll help me".She glanced at him "What plans?".He smirked "Don't make me ruin the surprise".

The school year ended with the usual play dedicated to the Founders of Hogwarts.Evelyn was Ravenclaw again. But this time Slytherin was played by his Heir.