This chapter is dedicated to those who are reading this.

A special thanks to @amazingmoonie for being so supportive.

~*~*~

Tom looked at the girl who was laying on the sofa. Clad in his cloak, she was looking unreasonably peaceful. A proud smile made its way onto his chapped lips when he remembered how she fought for him. It was a very dumb move, but it was brave. It showed that she was loyal. He adjusted the silver blanket on her body. Its material was thin, but the warmth that it gave away was satisfactory. When he made sure she was sleeping he turned around and sat on the wooden chair that faced the desk of his least favourite person in that school. He was after all in the latter's office. Never did he think he would come to this place, that too willingly.

*Flashback*

"Good Evening Professor" Tom greeted. His plump lips were sealed in a straight line. His eyes were narrowed, while his right fist was clutching his wand tightly.

Ignoring the boy, Dumbledore looked at the centaur and nodded his head.

"Thank you for sending a word Firenze."

"It was nothing Dumbledore."

The centaur, who now Tom knew was Firenze, nodded his head at the Transfiguration master. Then the former looked at Tom. A meaningful smile graced his bow-shaped lips. He turned around and left the scene.

Dumbledore looked back at his pupil.

"This is neither the time nor the place for exchanging greetings, Tom." He replied. His eyes were looking straight at him through those half-moon glasses. Clearly, he knew the star student of that ancient school was up to something.

The two wizards held each other's gazes. None of them wanted to back down easily. A few tense moments of uncomfortable silence passed between them. Finally, Tom broke them.

"I know," He muttered.

Taking in the clue that his pupil was not going to answer willingly, the Transfiguration master looked behind him. He saw someone was clad in a black robe. It was laying their motionlessly. His narrowed eyes widened when he figured who was it.

"Alexa?" He questioned in disbelief. He hushed. "What is she doing here? What are you planning Riddle?"

The darkness of that night was unable to conceal the deep concern that flashed in those sky blue eyes. The owner of those eyes reached toward the unconscious girl and inspected her face for any damage. He turned back to Tom and asked,

"What's going on?"

Dumbledore asked him calmly.

"I followed her," Tom replied. His posture was equally collected. "when she was in her wolf form."

Tom, though didn't want to admit it aloud, knew that the wizard standing in front of him was one of the greatest of all time. Hence, there was no way in hell that this man was blind to the fact of a wandering werewolf in their school.

Dumbledore's posture didn't change a bit. Though his face didn't give away anything, his lack of reaction confirmed Tom's suspicions of him knowing Alexa's reality.

"Does headmaster know about this professor?" Tom was trying to provoke his teacher.

"Let's discuss this somewhere that holds warmth."

Dumbledore turned to Alexa. He waved his wand and flicked it. "Wingardium Leviosa"

*Flashback Ends*

Tom waited for his Transfiguration master. Apparently, the latter had some business to take care of.

Tom adjusted himself in the chair. He folded his arms in front of his chest. His wand was tucked securely in the belt of his trousers. The warmth of the fire that lit in the fireplace was appeasing.

He looked around to see a red and golden-winged bird. It was sitting on a metal bar. Its eyes were closed. Its pink skin was glowing in that dimly lit room. Tom knew that it was the famous animal defender of Dumbledore. Its name was Fawkes.

Tom looked at the bird closely. It was no secret that phoenixes were immortal.

Immortality! What would it be like to be an immortal? Tom believed that death was the worst thing that could ever happen to humans. He always considered the superiority of wizards. Even though they had a longer lifespan than muggles, wizards were mortal.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he almost missed the presence of an owner of that office. Tom looked up to see his professor had returned. The thoughts of immortality fled from his mind instantly when it reminisced the vulnerable form of his violet-eyed witch.

"She will be okay, right?" He had to make sure.

Dumbledore looked at him strangely, but replied anyway, "Yes. She is a little tired that's all. Now tell me what happened from the start."

Tom leaned back. His features had relaxed visibly. "I was patrolling when I came across her running away. I followed to catch her, but before I could she turned into a wolf and entered the forest." Tom replied. It was a filtered truth. "I turned her back using Homorphus charm."

"Homorphus charm? That must be the reason why she was this exhausted." Dumbledore added.

It was true to some extent.

"No, sir," Tom hushed. "It's because of that blood-sucker." A shiver ran through his body when he recalled how close he was to die that night.

"Ah! That too. Firenze informed me about him." Dumbledore replied calmly.

"Professor, what was a vampire doing in the forest? Isn't it forbidden for them?" Tom asked.

"The time is not in our favour Tom" Dumbledore replied in a pensive tone. "Dark things want us dead. Vampires are not different."

The silence enveloped the room that hosted two conscious wizards. The younger one of them decided to interrupt it again.

"Professor, I don't understand. Why did she help me? Aren't werewolves supposed to hold enmity for humans?"

"Yes Tom, they are," Dumbledore answered, "but she is not just a wolf. She is a hybrid."

He leaned back in his chair. His hand stroking the feathers of Fawkes who hooted in appreciation.

"It's my theory that a person loses its sanity when is forced into doing something. The werewolf transformation is uncontrolled, in other words, forced. Hence they lose their mind and are unable to distinguish good and bad in their wolf form. Metamorphmagi can control changes in their body so they have a better span of sanity."

Tom took in the information. This meant that Alexa knew what was she doing when she was defending him.

"Is this also the reason for her healing faster?" Tom added.

Dumbledore gave him a small smile. Tom looked back. His eyes landed on the vulnerable girl. Her actions were questionable. Yet they intrigued him. The violet eyes that he adored so much were hidden behind those eyelids. The eyes. That reminded him -

"Professor, can I ask you one last question?"

Dumbledore nodded his head in affirmation.

"Her eyes." Tom continued. "When she feels strong emotions they turn colour."

"It's common for metamorphmagi to change their eye colour," Dumbledore said.

"Yes, but hers change to this particular shade of violet." Tom hushed. "They are either brown or violet. They never turn to any other colour."

Dumbledore straightened up. He composed himself and said, "Every metamorphmagus has a different degree of transformation. You must know it depends completely on the person."

Tom, though unsatisfied with this short answer, took no time to understand this was the most cooperation Dumbledore could offer him. He knew his professor was the most qualified candidate for the subject, so he didn't doubt his knowledge one bit. He looked outside to see it was almost dawn. The time to resume his activities and to find the place where he could hide from his past self for three bloody weeks.

Tom stood up from his place. Throwing a careful glance at Alexa, he nodded his head at his professor. He turned around to leave the place when Dumbledore's words halted him in his tracks.

"How do you plan to hide, Riddle?"

~*~*~

I know the film depiction of Firenze is different, but this is how the internet describes him.

Also, the goal of this chapter was to show some Tom and Dumbledore interaction.

Please vote and share this story if you want to read more because it will motivate me to write more.

Thank you all!!!