Chapter 20

"In my fifth year, the Chamber was opened and the monster attacked several students, finally killing one"HP2

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It started as a bad joke. A seventh year student petrified in the bathroom.But when no counterspell nor potion healed him, the teachers and the staff turned nervous.They didn't want to spread the news that they couldn't fix it. The student was clearly petrified and not dead, but what petrified him? The teachers asked for some days to value any possibility. And forgot to notice that the victim was a muggle born.Rules turned very strict and the prefect had to report any student who broke the curfew after the dinnertime. And the first one to get into troubles was the half giant Gryffindor Hagrid, who admitted he had a couple of werewolves cubs under his bed and needed to find food for them. He was suspended for a week. Since he had nowhere to go, he stayed in the castle in a dark room in the dungeons and each day he had some new punishment to bear.

Tom was satisfied. Everything went smoothly as he planned. No witnesses, no hints about the beast. It happened in a bathroom with a wet floor and some taps were opened, but nobody realized that the menace came from the water.Some weeks passed and the Herbology teacher solved that a Mandrake Draught would be a good remedy. Just sadly all her Mandrake plants had died for the winter frost because one night the greenhouse's glass had been broken by some falling rock from the castle. And it took weeks to get some new plants and make the potion.Other weird accidents occurred, mostly caused by the Quidditch games, until another student got petrified.A third year girl who was reading in the courtyard was found sitting by the fountain, her face staring in shock at the windows of the castle. To the teachers it was obvious that the attack came from inside the castle, not that a beast emerged from the fountain at her back and she saw its reflexion on a window.

Evelyn was growing stressed. Things went well just by chance. She feared that next time someone would die and the situation would have crushed on them all.Tom had made an accurate list of the muggle borns and studied it before burning the piece of paper.He was satisfied and proud of his work. Soon someone would have realized who were the victims and he was confident that then the muggle borns would have run away from the castle.

The teachers didn't have a clue on who was behind the attacks. And they didn't want panic to spread but they tried to make the culprit come out, miserably failing.

"Miss Burke? Can I talk to you for a moment in my office?".Evelyn was lost in her thoughts when professor Dumbledore called her. He was the teacher Tom disliked the most because he didn't appreaciate him as the other professors. Tom blamed it on the fact that Dumbledore met him for the first time in the Muggle orphanage.Evelyn followed him inside, wondering what he wanted.'Your grades are excellent as usual. I was just wondering if you wanted to keep all the courses you took also for the second term".She sat trying to look comfortable in front of him "Yeah, I'd like to. Although my schedule is very busy"."Nobody is forcing you to keep it that busy, right?" His penetrating stare challenged her. She knew only another person with that kind of dangerous stare. And it was her boyfriend."No. It's a challenge with myself" she stated firmly.He smiled approving "You're ambitious, Evelyn. Just like your uncle. But I hope you can recognize that we all have to face our limits and that you can accept failures as part of our life. Unless there is someone who is putting pressure on you to do that"."There's none but myself. My aunt and uncle don't care muh of my grades. But I want them to be proud of me and of spending their time and resources to raise me"."And they raised you well. They are surely already proud of you. Gratitude is a good quality, Evelyn. I'm sure also mr Riddle is grateful that you two grew closer, instead of seeing you as a rival".So that was where he wanted to go, she realized. He was probably suspecting of her and Tom.She tried to stay positive "It was an academic rivalry"."That's right what he would say" he said with a satisfied smile "All I want to say is that it's good to see him with you. I almost feared he was unable to bond with people who didn't live far from the magic world for all his childhood as he did. But now he seems really fond of you"."I think it works both ways. I believed I was an outcast because of my past. And he just accepted me as I am"."It's really lovely. It's something very precious. And I am relieved. Sometimes I feared he didn't lost his old bad habits".

She didn't know about what old bad habits the professor was referring to. They just dismissed and Evelyn left his office fearing that he suspected of them. He was a skilled legilimens and she couldn't know if her occlumency was strong enough against him. If he couldn't break her nor Tom, he could try on Tom's gang: none of them was ab occlumens, but they knew nothing about the Chamber nor the monster. But they knew the victims gad to be all muggle borns.

New attacks made the infirmary more crowded.The accidents couldn't be hidden so the professors had to try stronger measures. The headmaster announced that if the culprit or anyone who knew about it didn't come out soon, the punishment would have been direct expulsion. Then he tried to involve the Ministery and special agents, but Tom minimized it all by saying quietly that the headmaster was trying to scare them when in fact he was the scared one.

"How is that possible that this mystery is not solved yet?" Adele complained after trying to push Evelyn to reveal more about what she knew about the weird attacks.Evelyn shrugged, she mentally focused on her patrolling shift she had to join "I don't know. The professors are struggling as well"."There is someone petrifying students for fun and that someone can't be stopped? Could it be a professor the culprit?"."I don't know, Adele. It could be anyone. The new rules are not stopping the accidents. So what if there's some curse on the castle?".Adele blinked at that possibility "Could be. Evy, I think I noticed something about the accidents. Just a coincidence maybe"."What is it?" Evelyn stepped closer for making it be more confidential."The victims are all muggle borns" Adele whispered "I made a little research and asked around. And I noticed it"."So some lover of pure blood can be attacking on purpose? So we are safe?" Evelyn mumbled."I don't know. It's just a coincidence perhaps. But if that's true, you are safe because you are pureblood. But what about halfbloods?".Evelyn stared at her swallowing, then pointed out frowing with worry "Tom is halfblood too. He could be in danger".Adele gasped at that and said heartfelt "Let's pray this story will be soon over".

Evelyn felt that the story was far from over. Tom was enjoying it his game too much.She walked out of her tower, spotting a muggle born prefect."Stuart!" She called, making him soon turn with a wide flattering smile."Hey, Evy? We have patrolling together at last?".She felt a bit confused by his flirting tone "No, I need to ask you to give up on your patrolling shift tonight. It's for your safety".He frowned surprised "Mine? What about yours?"."I'll be fine. Just please, go back in your dormitory"."But I want to help"."You are more helpful if you stay in your dormitory"."I'm not leaving you. You can't tell me what to do. Slughorn told me I have a shift tonight, so I stay here until the curfew" he insisted, not knowing that he was going to be the next victim.

Evelyn had to play another little game with Tom, who planned to make their alibi clear.He had drunk some easy potion that make him get a fever and she had to steal a potion from the teacher's storeroom.When Slughorn investigated about it and ended up asking her, she confessed her crime. It felt like committing a suicide to her, although she didn't fear the professor."I couldn't ask... Because he make me promise not to tell anyone about his sickness" she explained when he asked for explanation in his office."I could have helped" he said troubled."He didn't want help. You know how stubborn he can be. I'm so sorry, sir. I hope I won't be in a situation like that again"."I hope that too. It's not so bad. I'd say just a light detention or taking some points can do it" the teacher winked at her."If I can choose, I pick detention".Suddenly the door opened and Tom bursted into the room "Sir, I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I need to talk to you".Slughorn gaped in surprise "Sure, my boy. Come in"."It's about the stolen potion. Blame me for it" Tom said hurriedly, placing his hands on Evelyn's shoulders."Nobody can use my potion storage without my permission. You know the rules" the professor said a bit shyly."Sir, it's my fault if she did it. You must punish me as well"."I really don't want to do that"."But rules must be obeyed. We agree to take the punishment, but I ask you to punish us together".Slughorn waved his hands "Stop using that word, Tom. I'll give you detention, but nothing too harsh. I'm glad to see you recovered, I won't do anything to make you feel sick again".

So Evelyn and Tom joined their detention together again, helping the teacher to review the exams of some younger students.And in that same hour Stuart Cowley was found petrified in the boys' lavatory, making their detention being dismissed earlier.

Guilt was haunting Evelyn's mind. She didn't feel safe from the attacks. She didn't understand how a wild beast like the basilisk could make a difference between the muggle borns and the other students. Tom said it was a matter of how the blood smells, but according to her blood smelt the same for every human being.She saw sometimes muggle borns performing magic better than purebloods so she believed that if the beast attacked the right students was only because Tom spent many hours instructing his new pet. A pet that could totally replace Evelyn in Tom's affections.

Evelyn spotted Tom standing on the windowsill next the bottom of her tower. She just visited the hospital wing, mentally saying sorry to the many victims of his madness.She approached him silently, her opposite feelings storming inside her.Just a little push and he would have flown helplessly into the dark night. And the Heir of Slytherin wouldn't have been a menace anymore.  Evelyn swallowed hard, catching away those bad thoughts.Tom turned to her and offered a hand.If only he knew how her darkest side was tempting her. But he couldn't read her mind anymore and she was deeply grateful for that.Perhaps he had in mind to make her fall from that window just as she thought. Fearlessly she took his hand and climbed on the windowsill, keeping herself in balance with him and shivering at the cold wind.He smirked turning to stare at the dark sky again."I've always enjoyed this part of the day, when everything is possible" he said softly."When you can see the stars and planets shining so far away from here?"."Also. But tonight there is only the darkness. And you. And I feel easier to be earnest now"."What do you mean?" She asked glancing at him."I forced myself into this because I couldn't bear all the rumours on you, all the silly chats of the other boys obsessed with you" he said with anger talkinh to the dark sky "I had to have you, to be the first one to kiss you, the first one to take you. You had to be mine. It was like a bet I made with myself, nothing more".Evelyn was holding her breath. She couldn't guess what he was meaning to say. She wished she didn't meet him and didn't stand on that windowsill with him.The cold wind was tickling her like millions of invisible little icy fingers."I didn't mean to cheat on you. You earned my respect. We had fun together and I enjoyed this more than I ever imagined. I've always disdained feelings. I never wanted to waste my time on such foolishnesses"."Are we breaking up?" She asked with her weak husky voice."No" he shot her a fast glance "All I'm saying is.. I never thought I could ever fall. But perhaps I didn't know myself as much as I believed. And I'm not so weak to deny that I think...that somehow I've fallen for you".They were staring into each other's eyes.Evelyn struggled to find a glint that proved her he was playing some wicked game, that he was lying for some secret intention. But all she saw were his eyes lit by what looked like sadness and resignation. He was sincere, she concluded. Perhaps it was the first and only time he was a bit sincere.He took her hand and she turned rigid to keep her balance."Now... Don't use this confession of mine against me or you'll regret it. Remember that I can always change my mind" he smirked at his own menace.She frowned nodding vigorously."Good" he swallowed hard and looked down "Flying isn't in my interests right now. Let's get back in".He jumped down and helped her down from that windowsill, taking her by her waists and making her land in front of him.She put her hands on his that were holding her tightly and looked into his eyes to understand what he had in mind."Let's be a normal couple just for this night" he whispered nervously "Forget all the fights we had, the times you got angry to me and I scared you. Look at me as a boy who just declared himself to you and that you accepted as he is. Can you?".He was so handsome in that dim light, she noticed "I think it's not that hard"."What we think is not always right" he said with a light laugh."True" she smiled too "Well, tell me what you want now"."Kiss me" he whispered breathlessly "Kiss me like it's the first time".She stared at him, forcing her mind to see him as he asked her, forcing her heart to feel again those storming feelings she had for him before he kissed her for the first time, to feel that attraction that pushed her to him.Tom was waiting. He didn't look dangerous nor acting. He was just a human boy looking for his place in the world. And she admired him for that.She leaned towards him, their face coming closer.He stood still, only his breath betrayed he was nervous and expecting.She admired his handsome face, then reached his slightly parted waiting lips with hers.A sweet kiss that didn't last long.She retreated seeing he had closed his eyes and he slowly opened them with the bright smile illuminating his face."Thank you" he whispered."For what?".He delicately took her face into his warm hands and kissed her patiently, then turned it into a passionate one.It left them both breathless, but happy.Tom took her hand and intertwined their fingers, leading her down the corridor like they were a normal madly in love couple."It's not that bad".She smiled nodding. But she didn't forget his words. Only that night. When she would have woken up he would have been the heartless Lord Voldemort again.It was such a bittersweet situation."Hold me" she whispered before falling asleep into his arms."I'll never let you fall" he replied wrapping her closer.

Just before the dawn, she hurried to get ready to reach her dormitory before someone could notice her unappropriate behaviours.Tom was already awake but taking it easy."What?" She asked when his unreadable stare following each of her actions became unbearable. His kindness and tenderness of the previous night seemed already vanished."I'm just thinking. About us" he shrugged.Her heart leaped a little, but she recalled that he wasn't into romanticism anymore."And?" She pushed nervously."I'm a bit worried. What I mean is..." He inhaled deeply "I always admired your strength. But sometimes I'm afraid that I could harm you. I strive to go beyond any limits. But I could unwillingly damage you in an irreversible way. And I wouldn't forgive it to myself".She recalled the basilisk and the Chamber stuff. She was risking expulsion, or worse Azkaban, or worse death. But she couldn't find a way out anymore."I knew since the first moment that it was dangerous, but I accepted it. And then I was glad to take any risk, even if doubts haunted me" she said firmly.He smiled faintly, his mind getting lost again into his duties as Heir of Slytherin.

Later Evelyn had to deal with a risk she underestimated. A new unexplained attack made the headmaster decide to keep the school open for some more weeks. And then nobody would know how long it took to open it again.Evelyn knew that it wasn't what Tom wanted. He wanted everything but to be exiled into his muggle orphanage.

When she spotted him, he had a deeply satisfied face. Not for his outstanding grades in the latest exams."What have you done? Why erasing that student's memories?" She asked him impatiently."Quiet" he hissed checking that they were safe enough from spies "I had to. That silly boy spotted me stepping into the lavatory"."You erased this whole day from his mind. The professors are struggling how could that happened and investigating on who can be so skilled to use Memory Charms".Tom rolled his eyes "I was a little distracted, okay? I could have used an unforgivable spell as I used a Memory Charm. All that matters is that he doesn't remember what he saw"."If you say so. But that's not the worst. The headmaster wants to close the school. What will happen to us?"."He can't do that" Tom hissed annoyed "He should understand that only the mudbloods are the targets"."We already spread the word, but it's not enough" she complained "Dippet is panicking. Everyone is panicking. So it mean they can't think properly. You can tell them to their face that only the muggle borns are banned and they would keep being afraid"."He can't close the school" Tom hissed with growing anger."He can and he will. This story must end or we will be banned from the school too. There will be no school anymore"."It can't be over yet"."You can fix this all. Only you" she moved closer grabbing his hands and begging him with her worried eyes "You can't let the attacks happen anymore. Not for now. Or we will all pay for this".He stared back at her. She knew that he didn't like to be told what to do, specially to be told that he had to stop doing something that he enjoyed so much."Tom? Please" she begged when his silence was scaring her.He inhaled and faked a smile "Alright. I'll close the chamber".It was almost a surprise for her to hear those words from his lips.He caressed her grateful face "Let me fix it all. We will meet for supper or the patrolling shift. And I'll manage to have a word with Dippet too. It's going to be alright. Nobody can kick me out of this castle".She hugged him "Be careful, please"."Always" he whispered in her ears, then kissed her goodbye.

Evelyn was just looking forward to know that the story of the chamber was closed. She was worried for Tom's safety too. Maybe the basilisks wouldn't agree to be locked again into the chamber, maybe it would rebel. But what she needed the most was to sigh in relief for being free from the responsibilities of her knowledge for a while. The summer break was about to start, she needed to know that she would go back in that castle in September.