Once January arrived Harry was shocked to discover that his professors had been holding back the first half of the year, and now that second term had started OWL prep was beginning in earnest. That meant more work than ever. By the second week of term Harry had forgotten what free time even looked like. He lamented this fact, except for how it meant Riddle was busy too, and therefore couldn’t keep pestering him about the future and didn’t have time to search for the Chamber, so Harry didn’t have to waste time stalking him.