Alexa tucked a strand of her black hairs behind her ear. Then both of her hands found their way back in her lap as her fingers played with one another. Her teeth bit on her bottom lip as chewed it nervously. Her eyes danced around the old, not-so-well maintained room. She squirmed in the old wooden chair to find some non-existing comfortable position. Every little gesture did she make screamed anxiety.

To say she was nervous was an understatement.

She was alarmed.
Hysterical.
Even Neurotic.

Oh, Lex! Calm down. It is not like this is the first time you are in Mrs Booth's office, who would come in anytime now to give you your detention.

Then a drop of sweat traced the column of her neck as her back stiffened.

Helga! It was indeed her first visit to the damn office.

Some people would think that she was being dramatic, but she was a mere girl. A sixteen-year-old who all her life was made to believe that avoidance of problem is their only solution. Well, Alexa knew that keeping eyes open helped, but shutting them down and hoping for the best had always given her a provisional sense of relief. She wasn't lucky enough to have a perdurable warmth that came from having parents and family, but whenever did she close her eyes flashbacks of the moments she spent with hers demolished her fears. A kid in her wanted nothing more than a hug from a caring mother and a pat on a shoulder from a proud father. A sense of belonging somewhere. Anywhere. Maybe that was the reason she grew so attached to Tom. The Prefect, in his own style, had given her that sense, in some very weird way. The way that she had no idea even existed.

She stood up from her uncomfortable seat. Her feet dragged her across the floor of that old office, as her mind started counting her steps in order to avoid a constant contemplation. Her eyes, unfocused, looking at nothing in particular. Her teeth were busy chewing on her lips. Her palms were rubbing together to warm her slightly sweaty hands. Her walking suddenly ceased as her dull brown orbs zeroed on a glittering material. It was peeping out of a partially closed drawer near the back of the room. Curious, her feet, with a mind of their own, narrowed the distance. She threw a wary glance around. Would it hurt to look, her mind wondered for a moment before her fingers pulled on what looked like a golden chain. Covered in a little dust, it was kind of a miracle, how brightly it reflected the light in that dim room. At the end of the chain, there was an hour-glass. Her eyes zoomed on as they came across the design carved on the glass and then they widened as she realized an identity of that artefact. It was a time-turner. An aspiring alchemist in her had always wondered what would it feel like to hold one. And now that she had it in her palm, she couldn't but trace her fingers along its curve as if it would vanish any moment. The fascination with the current situation evaporated the anxiety of her previous one.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of it. She wanted to keep that like a broken record in her mind. So engrossed in it that she didn't even contemplate why the artefact was there, right there, in Mrs Booth's office. The woman, after all, was in no authorized position to possess such an item. So engrossed that her eyes widened when the sudden peace was broken by the sound of footsteps. Panicked, she hastily put the artefact back in its place and shut the drawer. Her head, turned back in the direction of the sound, was too busy to notice that instead of landing in its initial home, the magical item had made itself comfortable in the pocket of her baggy clothes. She returned to her seat and sat down even more uncomfortable than before. She took short breaths trying to calm her beating heart and hide the fact that she was peeping through the things she shouldn't. Was Tom really rubbing off on her? Preparing herself for what was about to come she heard the voice of the last person she expected.

"Snow!"

Her brows furrowed as she turned sharply to look at the intruder. Her confusion was quite clear as she stared down at her unexpected visitor.

"Logan, what are you doing here?"

An arrogant smile graced his pink lips. A sudden glint in his eyes confused her about what was about to come. "Here I was, thinking that you might be happy seeing your knight in shining armour."

Alexa narrowed her eyes. "Since when did that happen?"

"You hurt me." Logan's lips made a dramatic O shape. His eyes yet again gaining his irresistible puppy-dog-eye form, which Alexa found was a mock look of a wounded-puppy in that case. What he was trying to establish was still out of the comprehension of the badger.

"Stop the drama already and tell me truthfully why you are here," Alexa spoke softly. A smile graced her lips as her earlier anxiety abandoned her small petite body. Maybe he indeed was her knight. A knight who made her forget her worries.

"Well," Logan started, "I am here to tell you that you don't need to be that worried."

"Yeah, sure! That suddenly makes sense."

"Seeing as you are in no hurry to process what I had just uttered," he continued while earning an impatient slap on his arm, "ouch girl! What do you even eat? Anyway, to answer your question, I might or might not have convinced Professor Slughorn yesterday after the class that you were not the only one at fault, that I am as guilty as you are. And so, he made me join you on your this little adventure."

"Are you out of your mind?" Alexa looked at him incredulously. "How in the world are you at a fault? It was I, who threw the whole seeds in that damn cauldron. It was I, who did that without any warning. If anything, you should be angry with me for screwing up one of the simplest potions." By the end of her rant, her voice dropped notches and turned to a bare whisper. Her eyes left the boy's face and looked at the ground in shame as she recalled the incidence and Slughorn's words. It appeared that she had taken his words to her heart. That's what happens to the person who already lacks the self-confidence, especially when the blow comes from someone who is better than them in the field they lag behind.

Logan placed his hand below her chin and lifted it so that they could have a better conversation. "Believe it or not, I was as guilty as you are. In fact, if I want to be honest, I would say am guiltier than you. Had I not suggested the damn potion, he wouldn't have insulted us, and you wouldn't have reacted the way you did."

Alexa shook her head. "No, you aren't. You don't have to feel guilty Logan. I agreed with you, do you not remember? It was not just your suggestion. It was my decision. And he belittled us both, still, it is not your fault that you didn't lose your composure as badly as I had it shattered."

"That you hardly know. You didn't give me time to react at all. I mean, one moment we both are getting insulted in front of all our classmates and the next moment the culprit is covered with the potion. Will it be bad if I told you that I wanted to do just that, but without magic at all? I can't even say I am sad that he got what he deserved."

A smile broke on both of their faces as they both reminisced the scene.

"Thanks for being here Logan," she hushed.

"Anything for my sister," he whispered back. More like he was mumbling to himself.

A shiver ran through her spine. Unexpected happiness bubbled inside her mind.

"Sister? Since when?"

"Since always."

Who said you need to share blood for being related? Alexa was happy that somehow they had developed an understanding as pure as siblings.

*Meanwhile in another part of the castle*

The long pale fingers caress the cold skin. His elegant finger traced the scales lovingly as they drew some invisible patterns on them. His eyes gazed in a distance as he recalled the decisions he made earlier.

*flashback*

Tom looked down at the small vial in his palm. The light reflected brightly from its surface as the yellow content within shined.

"Come in." He heard an answer to his knocking. Finally, he thought to himself.

"Oh! M'boy. Come in. Come in," the potion master chirped. Tom looked up at him and controlled a snort at the appearance of the elder man. The pink robe tied around his wide waist didn't actually fit the young boy's idea of being intimidating. From what the boy could guess, his house head had showered and was getting ready to call it a night. Maybe he should have come and met him earlier than waiting for the time just around the curfew.

"Good evening Professor," Tom greeted.

Slughorn smiled. His goofy, loopy smile. "Good evening m'boy. May I ask why are you here this late?"

Taking a deep breath, Tom lifted his hand. "Here, Professor. I thought you might need this."

"What is it, boy?" The potion master asked, confused.

"The potion to induce Euphoria," he continued in a well-polished, well-rehearsed, well-crafted tone, "I thought you might want this after what happened today in the class."

"Salazar, have some mercy!" Horace exclaimed. "Nothing will I appreciate more at the moment m'boy. You really never cease to amaze me with how thoughtful you are. You are wise beyond your age, boy."

His eyes twinkled as he took the small vial in his hand and examined it. He then uncapped the container and took in a whiff. His keen eyes and experienced nose confirmed that the potion was done with perfection.

"Ah! 50 points to Slytherin for your noble act, m'boy."

"It's the least I could do sir, after all the knowledge you have given us." What to say when was something Tom had learned like a back of his palm.

"I really can't say how lucky I am to have you as a pupil. You are the finest I have got."

Finest? Slughorn said the finest. What was Tom? A tool? Tom contemplated. He didn't want to be the finest. He wanted to be the greatest. The greatest who ever lived or will ever live. The greatest of all times.

"You are very kind, sir," he spoke over-politely, as his hands curled into fists.

"I feel like the house-points are not enough. Ask what do you need m'boy. I would be very glad to give you whatever I can in my power."

A content smile that graced his professor's face affirmed Tom that he had his professor where he wanted him to be. And the slight twitch around the corner of his lips boosted his arrogance. Flattening his minor slip, Tom dropped his voice by notches. Just for a dramatic effect.

"I didn't do this for gaining a favour sir, but if you really wish, I want to serve a detention with Ms Winters."

Slughorn's eyes widened in a flash. "WHAT? Why will I give you a detention? You have done nothing wrong at all."

"No, sir. It is my fault. I am her tutor and I should take responsibility for her failure."

"No, Tom. You shouldn't. You need not do this. Yes, you are her tutor, but that doesn't mean that she is your responsibility." This was the strictest tone Horace had ever used with Tom.

Tom gritted his teeth. His knuckles turned white. Who was this old fool to decide Alexa wasn't his responsibility? Still, he showed an excellent amount of self-control when he muttered the next sentence. "It is the right thing to do sir."

Slughorn's eyes twinkled with admiration but an exasperated sigh escaped his lips. "Your sense of rightness is really beyond your age, m'boy. What would it take for you to drop this ridiculous notion?"

"Nothing, sir. I want to do this. I really have to do this," he spoke firmly.

Slughorn shook his head. "I know you are worried about her with Mrs Booth Tom. She is after all your lover, but luckily for you, I have decided to reduce her punishment. I realized me giving her detention over an exploded Hiccoughing potion is a bit too much. I will think about something else with a fair warning, besides it's now two of them."

"Two of them?" The last sentence got his attention, so much that Tom ignored the sudden happiness he felt when Slughorn, a professor, a man with an authority more than a normal pupil, acknowledged that Alexa was his lover.

"Ah, yes! After class, Mr McLaggen came to meet me and confessed how he was partially responsible for the accident today. Like you, he also claimed that he was involved since the potion was his suggestion." The potion master chuckled to himself. "Lucky girl! Having two boys defending her."

The last sentence mortified Tom's composure. What's with this girl and him losing his control? The boy wondered as he felt a pang of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. What if their caretaker takes them in the forbidden forest. Logan and Alexa. Serving detention. Alone. In the dark. No. Not happening. No way in the damn world would he allow that. Wild determination swallowed his soul.

"Now m'boy, I think you should go to your dorm. To be honest with you, I feel like they both have improved after they started their tutoring with you and Mr Avery. And this is a partial reason why I am considering to lower the level of their detention."

Tom took a deep breath and tried another strategy.

"Professor, she had not only failed you, but she failed me as well. All my tutoring had gone out of the window with her clumsiness. Will you mind if I supervise their detention personally? That way all three of us will get what we deserve," he spoke. He would make sure to keep the two badgers apart. All the way at the different ends of the school.

Now, Horace's face brightened. His smile eclipsed the lights in the room. "I will consider it."

As Tom turned and left, he heard his Professor whispering to himself. "Albus, you fool!"

He had no clue what was it about. Despite it pained him to admit, it was the truth that Dumbledore was genius and the close friendship the two house heads shared was not a secret. Then why? The thoughts stormed in his mind. Why would he be called a fool by the potion master? Salazar! Relationships and human nature can really be incomprehensible.

*flashback ends*

Tom lifted his hand again and petted the strong body lying beside him.

"My dear Ahina, I am a great wizard, aren't I?" Tom spoke as he continued to look through a small diary in his left palm.

The pages of it contained the names of those who were adulterating the purity of the magical world, those who put a shame on the name of wizardry. They were the things that needed to be cleaned, the things that the noble Salazar would have wanted to be cleaned.

"Let's hunt you a prey Ahina. I believe you have been fasting for far too long."

"Yes, master."

~

One of the longest chapters I ever wrote.

#fact Ahina: Derived from Sanskrit word Ahi meaning snake.

J. K. ma'am hasn't given a name to the basilisk in the chamber of secrets. I decided to do it.

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