Tom didn't think he wanted this dinner more than he ever did a while ago. Of course, it's not the food that piqued his interest but the presence of Lestrange.

He was trying to find an opportunity to befriend Lestrange and perhaps even let him join his little group of 'friends' he can manipulate.

But when Lestrange spoke up, he decided that he'd take him in without any evaluations this time.

"Professor, what do you think about Grindelwald's thoughts about the statute of secrecy?" Lestrange asked, grabbing almost everyone's attention.

The few Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs groaned feeling annoyed.

But the Ravenclaws were listening intently at what's Professor Slughorn's gonna respond with.

"Very well, my dear students. There was a reason why the Statute of Secrecy was formed. Simply trying to get rid of it will only bring chaos to both worlds," Professor Slughorn stated, gulping down the pumpkin juice.

"Why should it be us who are hiding?" Lestrange added, slightly leaning forward.

There was a long pause and everyone looked at each other before Professor Slughorn spoke up.

"We have magic in our blood. We are superior, yes. That gives us the responsibility to protect the weak," Professor Slughorn quoted, nodding and agreeing with his own statement.

"That's a wonderful explanation, sir," Tom broke the awkward silence that followed after Professor Slughorn's words.

"Yes, I think so too" the Gryffindor ginger toasted Professor Slughorn's glass cheerfully.

The rest of the dinner went well as the inter-house interactions were far better and no one judged Lestrange for what he said or asked.

It was past midnight when the dinner chat died and everyone slowly went to their dormitories.

Riddle walked slowly, suddenly remembering about Morsia ghosting him. His pleasant mood was ruined but fortunately for him, Lestrange approached him from behind.

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"Do you think so too?"

"Hmm?" Riddle wasn't quite following as his mind was preoccupied but then he came back to his senses.

"Protection from who? Us or them? you know, that's a bit funny," Tom continued trying to lure Lestrange.

"Exactly, I feel like only a few of us understand the truth," Lestrange shook his head.

"Alright Mate, see you soon," he added waving goodbye.

Lestrange left him alone in the hallway as Tom didn't continue the conversation.

Tom's thoughts drifted back to his anger toward Morsia, he lazed around through the stairways as he walked to the dormitory.

"What ya doing Riddle? On a night stroll tryin' to replace Grimsby?"

Peeves, the Hogwarts poltergeist came out of the wall in front of him, startling him a bit.

He did not answer it.

As he strode toward the dungeons, he saw a familiar figure walking toward the Slytherin dormitory. He turned his pace fast, and it was Morsia.

"What are you doing?" he questioned, trying not to show his engulfing anger.

"To the dormitory?" she shrugged.

Just then, Notts followed her. She looked a bit less miserable than she was during these days. Her gaze was on the floor as she followed Morsia to the dormitory.

'Strange' Tom wondered.

"Where were you?" he asked again.

His entire body felt his anger rising, his hand was gripping the wand tightly in the pockets.

"Oh, Was doing a bit of studying," she replied with an air of I don't care attitude.

His gaze fell upon Notts who was standing pitifully ahead of Morsia, just then she had met Morsia's eyes, she nodded curtly as a sign of acknowledgment as she turned to head inside the dormitory which left Tom Riddle perplexed.

"Wait, Notts."

In normal circumstances, he'd rather not call for her but this scene seemed to be suspicious to him.

'Are they plotting something?' he wondered.

"Yes?" Morsia answered instead as she came dangerously close to him, with her threatening glare. Her sinister smile back on, that revealed her dimples.

She looked sideways toward Notts as she nodded, and Notts headed inside.

"What does this mean, Ravenwood?" he asked calmly.

"What do you mean?" she threw his question back at him.

"Why didn't you come to the party?"

"I told you already."

He glared at her as she smiled mockingly at him.

Within a moment of impulse, he had drawn his wand out and had hit her with the stunning spell.

"Nice try, Tommy," she smirked as she quickly moved, missing the attack.

She acted in a span of seconds and moved with ease as he hit him with a disarming spell and grabbed his wand in an instant.

He was knocked off.

"Three times in a row is a charm you know?" she mocked him quoting the times he had been humiliated by her.

He slowly stood up, collecting himself and trying to word his next lines carefully.

"You've been practicing, little Raven," he sneered.

"You're so bold to smile like that when I got two wands."

"Oh well, A little maybe," he shrugged as he walked toward. His plan was to talk his way out and get his wand back.

"Right, Get your wand back tomorrow."

Saying this Morsia trudged inside, without pausing a second to hear what Tom was gonna say.

He should've grabbed her hair when she walked away but unfortunately, he was too stunned to do anything. First time for Tom, things aren't quite going his way.