After Dumbledore finished a few reminders, he dismissed everyone to return to their common rooms and talk as they liked. Because of Rouse and the history between the schools, conversation quickly centered on Ilvermorny. Almost no one knew much about Castelobruxo, so there was little to say.
"How many will Ilvermorny send? Their total enrollment is four times ours."
"It is only a regular exchange, probably not many."
"Do people in South America speak English? How are we supposed to communicate?"
"Use hand signals. Worst case, say nothing. Who knows what bloodlines they have."
Tom did not join the chatter. He kept Daphne company in the common room for a short while, then returned to his dorm.
He took out Whatsapp. Ginny had already begun a barrage.
[Ginny: Where is my present?]
[Ginny: Tom, if you dare back out, I will fight you.]
[Tom: Fight how, exactly? Use the spells I taught you to beat me?]
[Ginny: I can tell Greengrass that the week before holiday you spent two hours with Cho Chang at the Astronomy Tower.]
[Tom: ???]
[Tom: How do you know that.]
[Ginny: Marauder's Map.]
[Tom: Impossible. The Map does not show my name.]
[Red haired maid: Heh. It does not show your name, but Cho would be an idiot to go to the tower alone late at night. If it was not with you, I cannot think of anyone else.]
Tsss.
Tom drew a sharp breath. This version of Ginny was dangerously sharp. Why was she not practicing magic instead of practicing deduction.
[Tom: Fine, you win. Your reward is ready. Be early to the Great Hall tomorrow and I will give it to you.]
[Ginny: Not tonight?]
[Tom: I am too lazy to go out tonight.]
[Ginny: Alright.]
Ginny put away her phone with some regret. If they met tonight, they would surely end up in the Room of Requirement, and Tom would almost certainly teach her a new lesson.
At that thought, Ginny's cheeks warmed. It was obviously something shameful. Yet after a few times she had begun to grow used to it, even to look forward to it.
...
On the other side, Tom had no idea what habits he was building in Ginny. After fixing a time, he unfolded the Marauder's Map, found Gryffindor Tower, and zoomed in.
Ron's name and Peter Pettigrew's were nearly superimposed. The sight made Tom's skin crawl.
In this, he could sympathize with Ron. Scabbers, that is Pettigrew, had first belonged to Percy. When Percy made prefect in fifth year, the family bought him an owl, and Scabbers was passed down to Ron. Ron was the Weasley hand me down collector. Almost every second hand thing ended up with him.
Why did Pettigrew not hide his name? Tom figured either he thought the Map was no longer in use after the Marauders fell, or he never learned true name protections.
How to drag him out would take thought.
...
Early next morning, Tom left the Slytherin common room before seven, only to find Ginny had beaten him there. She had been watching the stairs. The instant she saw him, she skipped over and held out her hand.
"Present. Now."
"Not here. Come with me."
He led her into an empty classroom and brought out the reward she had been waiting for, a gold pocket watch.
"A watch?" The girl frowned, instantly disappointed. "Whatever. It looks expensive. If I run short, I will sell it."
Tom rolled his eyes. "Try selling it and I will lock you in a room and hang you there for life."
Really?
Ginny almost asked, but forced herself to swallow it. She kept her chin up and muttered, "It is just a watch. No need to be that fierce."
"You have no eye."
The case clicked open. Inside it looked perfectly ordinary. No special details.
Tom pressed the top button. The face rotated. The ring of hour marks slid away. In their place opened a pale yellow vertical pupil.
"Petrify."
Tom spoke lightly. A yellow beam lanced from the slit pupil and struck the unprepared Ginny. The girl froze where she stood.
"This is the Eye of Petrification. I made it from a basilisk's eye. You have seen what it does. I originally wanted a true death effect, but aside from whether it is possible, it would be far too dangerous to use."
Smiling without warmth, Tom lifted Ginny's chin with the tip of his wand. "So, still thinking of selling it for cash?"
He pressed the button again. The serpent eye rotated away and the normal watch face returned. The petrification ended at once.
Ginny almost dove into Tom's arms, not for a cuddle, but to snatch the Eye of Petrification.
"How was I supposed to know it was powerful. I was wrong. Give it here."
She caught the watch and toyed with it, eyes shining. She had thought it was an ordinary trinket, yet it was a ring of rotating magic.
"This must not reach Snape's eyes," Tom said, watching her grin from ear to ear.
"Huh?" Ginny stared warily. "You stole it from Snape?"
"Ow. Why did you do that?"
The knock this time hurt. Real pain stung tears from her eyes.
"I said I made it." Tom was exasperated. "Snape asked me for basilisk eyes before. I told him they had been destroyed. With his eye, one glance at this and he would know it is tied to a serpent's pupil."
"Do you think a petty man like him will target you, or me?" Ginny asked.
Tom rolled his eyes. "Obviously."
Ginny shivered and nodded. "You really do understand your Head of House."