Zaila POV
Over the next few years, the Chamber of Secrets became her world, and the dream-space her playground.
The System had upgraded her abilities through careful missions, SC purchases, and emotional guidance:
She could now walk around freely in the Chamber during dreams, moving closer to Tom without risk of shattering the bond (Labyrinth: Flickering Illusions + Dream-Lock Awareness). Her Minor Telepathy (Doctor Who) had grown more refined; she could implant subtle suggestions and influence curiosity over multiple nights. Emotion Echo (My Little Pony) strengthened; Tom's feelings toward the girl in the glass were now persistent even after waking.
[SYSTEM ADVISORY: Host curiosity is increasing. Patience remains crucial. Premature exposure could disrupt bond or survival probability.]
She explored dream-space with care, moving closer to him each night, studying his mannerisms, his thought patterns, and even testing small gestures like sitting beside him, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder in dreams. Never too much though always conscious of his age.
[SC REWARD: 50/week for consistent dream influence and emotional guidance.]
The bond was no longer a simple thread; it was a golden cord, shimmering through the dreams, delicate but unbreakable.
---
Tom POV
For his part, Tom grew more restless with each passing year. The connection to the dream girl was not a passing fancy-he remembered her clearly, even in waking hours.
He began to document every detail:
* The glow of her hazel eyes, gold at the edges.
* The flickering shadows that always guided him toward curiosity.
* The persistent tug in his mind whenever he thought of dungeons, secret passages, or unexplained magic.
He tried to rationalize it. Perhaps he had imagined her. Perhaps it was a magical quirk of his own mind. But the feeling lingered, persistent and compelling.
It was Slughorn, during a third-year Potions discussion on rare magical phenomena, who inadvertently set him on a new track.
"There are... legends," Slughorn had said casually, polishing a vial, "of rare bonds that tie two souls across great distances. Soulbonds, they're called. Dangerous, precious, and... well, exceedingly uncommon. Most wizards never encounter them."
Tom had perked up instantly, curiosity sparking. Every instinct told him-this is what I've been feeling.
He spent months researching quietly, scouring restricted sections of the library, ancient manuscripts, and personal journals. He cross-referenced every record of soulbonds, noting the few documented cases of magical communication during sleep, heightened intuition, and inexplicable attraction.
---
In dreams, he now perceived her moving with purpose. The girl in the coffin no longer sat frozen or stationary-she walked, gestured, and even initiated brief interactions:
* A hand on his shoulder in moments of hesitation.
* A whispered suggestion: "Curiosity leads the way."
* Flickering shadows that hinted at secret passageways he might explore in waking hours.
Each time, the dreams left a residue of recognition, a faint warmth he could not shake, even when awake.
He knew he was not imagining her. He could sense intelligence and intention.
And always, Slughorn's words would echo in his mind: 'Could she be my soulbond?'
He did not yet understand the depth of the connection, nor the danger it implied. But he would not rest until he discovered the truth.
---
Zaila POV
The Chamber's green light shimmered across Zaila's face.
The basilisk stirred lazily beneath the stone.
The System pulsed softly:
[Bond is strong. Host moving toward discovery. Exercise patience; full exposure not yet safe. Continue to influence subtly while monitoring for awareness spikes."]
For the first time, Zaila felt the full weight of their bond. She could walk, gesture, and influence in dreams-but the waking world remained her greatest challenge.
And Tom... Tom was getting closer.