Chapter 30

The group had solely worked on locating the chamber of secrets for the whole term. Anastasia felt as if she hadn't spoken to another soul other than the boys and Tom in forever. As they all took their usual seats one evening Tom began to talk.

"We're ready to open the chamber." Rosier and Anastasia looked at one another nervously. "We know that it supposedly holds a monster within, so I do not believe it would be wise for us to all go." Tom stated.

"Surely if there is a monster we should all go with you my lord?" Tom stared at Anastasia with a condescending smirk.

"You're a girl what good would you be?" Mulciber snorted. Tom snapped his attention towards the boy, wiping the sneer of his face.

"On the contrary Cedar," Tom hissed before turning his attention back to Anastasia "Miss Delaney will be joining me because she is a girl. No one will suspect her." Anastasia felt herself nod, almost against her will, as he stared at her." As for the rest of you, your work has appeared fruitful and that will serve you well in the future." Tom told Anastasia to meet him outside the Slytherin common room in ten minutes to fulfil the task while everyone was busy doing homework, as they all got up to leave Rosier grabbed Anastasia's hand holding her back.

"Rosier what-"

"I don't think you should go tonight. I'll go instead of you." Rosier stated with a terrified look in his eye.

"You can't do that you know Tom will-"

"Anastasia." Rosier looked desperate. "You can't. If there's a monster in there do you think Tom will protect you? Do you think he'll try to save you? You know why the chamber of secrets was created. Salazar Slytherin wanted to rid the school of muggle-borns and so does Tom. What if the monster can tell that you're a half blood?" Rosier pleaded. Anastasia stood silently, unsure of what to say. She was afraid, but she knew she had to do it.

"Lawrence, Tom's picked me. We can't go against his decision you know that." Anastasia whispered softly.

"Why has he picked you though? What happened between you two at Avery's? Anastasia he's putting your life at risk for no reason. We all assumed he'd do this alone." Anastasia didn't know why Tom had picked her.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going. I have to."

"Anastasia-" She turned and left for the door.

She ran and met Tom who led her across the castle. As they snuck through the shadows Anastasia felt as if her heart was beating as loud as a car horn. Suddenly she found herself outside of the girl's bathroom. Tom whispered for her to go check that it was empty, feeling a wave of disappointment as she realised the her being a girl really was the reason she had been invited to join. Once she checked that the coast was clear Tom joined her in the bathroom. She suddenly heard Tom speaking parseltongue towards the sinks, and watched in amazement as they opened up to reveal a tunnel. Before Anastasia could say anything Tom indicated for her to stay back. He saw Anastasia glare at him.

"Stay here and make sure no one comes in."  He whispered angrily. Suddenly he was gone as he jumped down the tunnel. Anastasia wanted to scream watching him disappear, but held it in as tight as she could. The longer she waited the more and more nervous she became. She leaned herself over the edge a number of times contemplating jumping down, fearing that Tom needed help. After a few minutes Anastasia began to hear banging coming from within the tunnel. She stared in fear as she heard the rumbling coming closer and closer. Suddenly she realised what was happening. The monster was coming. She knew she couldn't leave Tom, so ran towards the stalls to hide when suddenly she felt a huge eruption behind her from the sinks. She turned around to see the head of a giant snake slithering out of the tunnel. Anastasia gasped. She froze, her feet unable to move. The snake heard her and stopped moving. It's head faced towards the exit, and Anastasia held her breath watching it sit there. Suddenly the huge snake continued slithering out of the tunnel, exiting the bathroom. Anastasia stood there trembling in silence until Tom appeared after the snake had left.

"Anastasia?" Tom looked ecstatic. She ran over to him and hugged him, taking him aback.

"Jesus Christ!" She whispered. "Are you ok?" She grabbed his arms, inspecting to see if he was hurt.

"Miss Delaney of course I am alright. We need to get out of here." Anastasia was confused and terrified. She mindlessly took Tom's hand as they ran out of the bathroom. Down the corridor Anastasia saw someone lying strangely on the floor.

"Oh my god!" Anastasia shouted. "Rosier!" She ran towards the boy to find him rigid lying with his arms out and a terrified look on his face. Tom ran over to her and grabbed her waist, pulling her away from Rosier. "What have you done?" She whispered in disbelief. She struggled against Tom's grip, trying to cling to Rosier.

"What have we done, Miss Delaney." His words shot like daggers into her heart and her body went limp. Tom picked her up, carrying her like a baby. He ran to their secret meetings classroom, laying her down on the floor.

"You stay here." Tom got up readying himself to leave again.

"No!" Anastasia stood up and grabbed his arm forcefully. "What about Rosier? He needs help!" She screamed.

"Rosier will be fine Miss Delaney." Tom stated angrily, trying to remove her hand from his arm.

"Tom what on earth have you done? What is that thing? Are you trying to kill us?" Tom's eyes widened.

"Anastasia if I wanted you dead you'd be dead wouldn't you!" Tom shouted back. The pair stared at one another intensely.

"We can't leave him there, you know we can't-"

"Rosier is fine Anastasia!" Tom shouted in frustration, this time grabbing her hand so tight it bruised her skin as he removed her grip on him. "That thing is a basilisk, it's stare petrifies but I've given it very clear instructions. Why do you think it didn't petrify you?" Both of their breathing had become heavy, and Anastasia took a step away from him feeling nauseous.

"You told it to do that to Rosier?" She whispered.

"Someone considered to be my friend had to be a victim Anastasia, and I knew Rosier would follow you. It's rather offensive that he believes I would let anything happen to you." Anastasia couldn't look at him. Tom walked over and grabbed her face forcefully, forcing her eyes into his. Their chests lightly touching with each deep breath.

"We did this Anastasia. Don't pretend you didn't think I'd unleash the monster. You are just as much to blame as I am." Anastasia felt her eyes stinging. She knew he was right.

"That's why you wanted me to come isn't it? You wanted me to be liable. You worried I'd rat you out." Anastasia hissed. Tom gritted his teeth.

"You said you wanted to be a part of this. I just wanted to make sure that you can never change your mind."  Tom's breath warmed Anastasia's nose and his dark eyes made her skin sting with his gaze.

"It doesn't kill them right? They can be cured?" Tom smiled down and Anastasia knew how pathetic she looked but she couldn't help it.

"Your friend will be fine Miss Delaney." He let go of her face and turned towards the door.

"Go to your dorm and stay there. It will only petrify muggle-borns, but you still need to be careful. If you run into my friend..." Tom turned his head back towards her as he reached the doorway and Anastasia saw an eery smile grow across his face "close your eyes."