Chapter Text
It was a cool, early March day in 1943. Spring term had long since begun, so one would think that the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would be calm and settled into their routines. Instead, terror had struck again.
For the second time that year, a Muggleborn student had been found Petrified in a corridor.
The students pondered the reason for the attacks, who could be behind them, and what might happen if the culprit were not quickly apprehended. Everyone spoke in hushed tones over breakfast, not wanting to create any disturbance.
Well, almost everyone.
The Slytherins were unusually relaxed, and some even seemed to gloat. They were notorious for hating anyone who wasn’t Pureblood, and they weren’t afraid to show it. Even now.
Alera Vega, a fifth-year Slytherin, seemed especially at ease. Though her hatred of all things Muggle ran deep, she remained mostly silent, being careful not to say anything that might arouse suspicion. She’d had nothing to do with the attacks, but she did harbor a secret that would incriminate her if it ever came out: she didn’t only hate Muggles; she possessed a sharp hatred for most of humanity. She was happy to hear that an annoying student had been harmed.
Alera had a few friends, but mostly kept to herself. She never went out of her way to act like she cared about people unless she felt it necessary.
Instead of joining in the hushed conversations around her, she sat back, quietly ate her eggs and bacon, and observed the students around her.
Her best friend Lucretia Black and her boyfriend Ignatius Prewett sat nearby, debating who might be responsible for the attack. Alphard Black and his sister Walburga expressed annoyance that students from the other House tables kept shooting glances their way. Alera had noticed this as well, but chose to ignore it and focus on her fellow Slytherins instead.
Abraxas Malfoy and his girlfriend Amanda Burke were plotting ways to antagonize anyone who dared accuse them of culpability. Alphard and Walburga ignored their friends’ childish antics, as they often did.
As Alera’s eyes traveled down the row of students, she noticed that Tom Riddle, a fellow fifth-year, looked unusually deep in thought. She knew he was a very focused individual, but he was usually quite friendly around others. Alera found Tom’s behavior peculiar, since he wasn’t even attempting to socialize.
As everyone filed out of the Great Hall to attend their morning classes, Alera felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Tom looking at her quizzically. She raised her eyebrows in response.
“Why were you watching me at breakfast?” he asked.
“Uh...what?” she replied. She knew she had looked at him a few times; but she didn’t think that had qualified as watching.
“You kept stealing glances at me and I want to know why.”
Alera shrugged. “I thought you seemed...unusually quiet. You’re normally very social at mealtimes, so it seemed a bit weird.”
Tom stepped in front of her, blocking her from walking any farther. “Weird how?” he probed, his dark eyes boring into hers.
“It...it’s nothing,” she stammered, suddenly uncomfortable. She stared pointedly away from Tom. “I’m going to be late for class.”
She stepped aside and started walking again, but Tom was in front of her in an instant.
“Not if you tell me why you were observing me,” he prodded with a smirk.
Alera pressed her lips together. “I just thought your behavior was a little unusual, that’s all. It didn’t mean anything. Now, if you’ll excuse me....” She stepped aside again and continued walking, but stopped again when Tom gripped her shoulder.
“Why are you so anxious to get away from me?” he demanded. “We both have double Potions now, in case you’ve forgotten.”
She sighed. “Right.”
* * *
Alera deliberately ignored Tom for the entire class period—which wasn’t that hard, seeing as they had different partners for their in-class assignment. Tom usually worked with Abraxas, and Alera usually worked with Lucretia, and today was no different. Alera was tempted to tell her friend how Tom had irritated her on the way to class, but thought it best to remain silent. She didn’t want him to overhear and take that as another invitation to harass her.
After Potions ended, Alera collected her things and walked briskly out of the classroom. She was still a bit annoyed by Tom’s behavior, and wanted to take a walk to clear her head. Unfortunately, she had two more classes before lunch, so she had to wait.
Tom caught up with her again on their way to the Great Hall.
“It wasn’t nothing,” he spat, before she could say a word. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”
She shook her head and let out a humorless chuckle, realizing he had her cornered. “I was curious because you don’t usually keep to yourself at mealtimes. It made me wonder.”
“Wonder what.”
He sounded like a bomb waiting to explode, which only cemented in her mind that he was acting strangely.
“People don’t realize how much they give away with their body language,” she informed him. “I pay attention to this shit. You stood out this morning.”
“I pay attention to this as well, you know. There’s no need to condescend to me.”
“What the hell, Tom? I’m not talking down to you!”
“So get to your point.”
“You’re normally very sociable, but you didn’t want to talk to anyone this morning. And considering the circumstances—honestly, it made me wonder if you know something no one else does.”
Tom cocked his head to the side and stroked his chin. He regarded Alera in this pose briefly, before a smirk crept onto his handsome face. “I’m highly impressed by your powers of observation,” he praised.
Alera stood up straighter, eyes widened. She couldn’t help smirking back. “What do you know?” she demanded eagerly.
“You seem excited by the prospect of me knowing something about the tragedy, rather than unsettled. I find this highly amusing.”
“And you seem highly evasive today,” she drawled, alarmed that she had unwittingly let her guard slip, and now doing her best to cover it up. “What are you hiding?”
“Who says I’m hiding anything? For all you know, I’d just had a serious argument with someone and I needed time to process it. Am I not allowed to brood about my personal life, simply because someone else is hurt?”
“Come on, really?”
Tom only sneered and walked into the Great Hall, leaving Alera to wonder.
* * *
The tension within the school dissipated until one afternoon in late May, when yet another Muggleborn student was found Petrified. However, it wasn’t the Petrification alone that shook the Hogwarts occupants to the core. The body was found lying below a message on the wall, written in blood:
The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir beware.
Few students had heard of the legend of The Chamber of Secrets, but the professors knew what the message meant.
Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, had fought bitterly with his cohorts because he’d only wanted Pureblood students admitted. He’d threatened revenge when the others had thwarted him. Legend told that Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, dubbed The Chamber of Secrets, which housed a vicious monster. The beast could only be summoned by Slytherin’s heir when he arrived as a Hogwarts student. Together, Slytherin’s heir and the monster would be able to rid Hogwarts of all the students who were not Purebloods.
Of course, this tale had never actually been proven true, but the professors now realized that the story was no legend. They hastily removed the blood from the wall, and began toning down the seriousness of the issue so as not to upset the students. The younger children paid their instructors rapt attention, needing to believe that the Chamber was only a tall tale. It surely must have been a prank!
Many older students were skeptical, but kept their suspicions to themselves.
* * *
Alera’s instincts told her to watch Tom more closely after the May attack. Unfortunately for her, the boy was also highly observant and didn’t miss a beat. They weren’t even friends. She had no good reason to suddenly start caring about his behavior.
He followed her to the library one afternoon, intent on getting the truth out of her. She was so absorbed in her essay that she didn’t realize Tom was standing behind her.
She was about to get up to find another book when she heard someone clearing their throat loudly. She exhaled in frustration when she saw who was standing there.
“Tom, what are you doing?” she sighed in exasperation.
“Alera, you are constantly watching me and critiquing my behavior. I can see it in your facial expressions. Tell me why.”
She was alarmed that Tom was still onto her, but she downplayed it by rolling her eyes at him. “Tom, I don’t know what you’re playing at, but you need to stop flattering yourself,” she scolded. “I’m not paying any extra attention to you, as I have no reason to do so.”
“Flattering myself?” he demanded. “I’m simply noting your behavior toward me as of late; and I find it unsettling, given the recent unfortunate events.”
“Fine, then. I find your behavior unsettling...given the recent unfortunate events,” she shot back.
His eyes narrowed. “What are you implying?” he responded, lowering his voice.
Alera lowered her voice as well, and almost sneered. “I wonder if you’re really as innocent as you make yourself out to be,” she ventured.
“It appears you couldn’t care less either way.”
“Why should I?” Alera asked, as if this were a no-brainer. “I don’t care about the students who were attacked.”
“Now, tell me,” Tom chuckled, “does anyone else know your heart is this cold? I sincerely doubt it.”
“I might say the same of you,” she challenged. “Not that it matters.”
Tom regarded her with a hard stare. She returned the gesture. Neither of them even blinked. It was a battle of wills until Tom broke the silence.
“I’m tired of your word games, Alera. Stop watching me so closely, or I’ll make sure you’ll regret it.”
“You just keep telling yourself that. You don’t scare me.”
“Continue trying my patience, and I guarantee that will change.”
Alera rolled her eyes again and turned back to her homework. She was tired of Tom’s bravado and seemingly empty threats. Something told her that he truly meant what he’d said, but she doubted that he actually could scare her—hardly anything scared her, anyway. She chose to ignore him as he lingered behind her. She wanted nothing more to do with him.
I need to keep an eye on this one, Tom thought as he briskly walked away.
He couldn’t believe the girl’s nerve. He could never have imagined having such an unusual exchange with anyone. He was also boiling with anger—since he was a small boy, if he’d wanted to inspire fear in anyone’s heart, he could easily do so.
Except for Alera.
He’d known from a very early age that he was different from his peers. Special. Superior. He was unusually intelligent, for one, and had set himself apart from the other children at Wool’s Orphanage with his ferocious self-sufficiency and persuasiveness. And even after Professor Dumbledore had visited him at the orphanage to tell him he was a wizard, he knew that he was meant to be a special wizard.
He had been at the top of his class since his first year at Hogwarts, and he’d won the hearts of almost all of his professors. He had earned his reputation of being perhaps the most brilliant student Hogwarts had ever seen. By the end of his third year, he had learned complicated spells and developed abilities that most students would never be able to master without advanced training.
All of Tom’s professors knew he was a genius, and loved watching him grow academically. He used this admiration to his advantage. He played the part of a warm, hardworking student, and fit in beautifully with everyone. It also didn’t hurt that he was devastatingly handsome. Having surpassed the awkward preteen stage quite rapidly, he now appeared a few years older than sixteen. Girls were always staring at him, and many boys envied him and the respect he commanded. He acted like none of it mattered to him, in order to project an image of modesty. It worked beautifully, as his exemplary behavior had earned him a Prefect badge at the start of his fifth year.
No one knew that he possessed a violent imagination and often entertained thoughts of wielding complete control over others. His façade fooled everyone...except his too-sharp Transfiguration professor. Albus Dumbledore had tried, several times, to warn the other professors that Tom was dangerous, but he’d convinced no one. Though Tom hated that Dumbledore could see through him, he was grateful that the professor lacked the influence—and evidence—to change the minds of his colleagues and pupils. Tom had them all under his thumb.
Except for Alera.
From his brief interactions with her, Tom suddenly realized that he’d never met anyone whose personality so closely resembled his own. This both fascinated and infuriated him.
Like Tom, Alera was exceedingly bright, hardworking, attractive, and self-reliant. A fair amount of professors liked her. However, many students were also scared of her, or at least cautious around her, so as not to ignite her explosive temper. She never seemed truly afraid. Unusually guarded, she did not put her emotions on display; so her friends often wondered what she was thinking and feeling.
Many students tried to project fearlessness out of insecurity and low self-esteem, but it was obvious to Tom that Alera couldn’t have cared less what other students thought of her. He figured that she already had her own plans, which were likely solitary and had little bearing on her relationships with others. Because of this, she didn’t feel the need to hide her darkness as much as Tom felt the need to hide his. She didn’t have nearly as much to lose as he. While she probably didn’t want most people to know how cutthroat she truly was, she didn’t seem to have a problem revealing bits and pieces of her true personality to a select few. The episode in the library had shown him that.
If Tom didn’t know any better, he would have thought she approved of his potential involvement in the attacks on Muggleborns. He was, in fact, more involved than Alera could ever have guessed, but she didn’t need to know that. He made up his mind to watch her closely and find out exactly how much the two of them had in common—she could be of great use to him and his quest for power, as long as he could convince her that she could benefit as well. He wasn’t sure if she actually would benefit from being a part of his plan; but somehow, the idea of her reaping a reward didn’t bother him. He figured he could only gain from finding out more about this girl, and decided to learn as much about her as possible.