DISCLAIMER: Bow down to the great J.K. Rowling for she owns everything and if she knew what I was doing to her character, she would most likely kill me. Bow lower; maybe she'll forgive a little.
Historian's Note: This story takes place in Tom Riddle's 5th year (when he opened the Chamber of Secrets), but instead of the canon 1942 time period, the year is going to be 1951.
Somebody warned me so I decided to put a blanket thing on all my stories (het, slash, gen,) Please, bring an open mind. Remember, everyone's life is not the same."Are you going to let me down?"
"No."
"Are you going to loosen these chains a little?"
"No."
"Are you going to feed me?"
"No."
"Are you going to . . . "
"No."
"You didn't even let me finish the question."
"Didn't matter. The answer was going to be no."
"Why do you hate all non-purebloods so much?"
"I don't hate non-purebloods."
"This coming from the guy who has me chained to the ceiling, because I stopped him from killing a few muggles."
"Hmph. Why did you stop me?"
"Thou shalt not kill. Why do you hate all non-purebloods so much?"
"I don't hate non-purebloods and it's a long story."
"Are you going to let me down anytime soon?"
"No."
"I have the time."
"Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"No. But it'll give me something to do other than tick you off."
"And that is extremely dangerous to your health."
"Stop the whole 'I'm-the-Lord-of-Darkness' routine and tell the damn story."
"There is no need for cursing . . . All right, it happened in my fifth year."
:---:
The first years trooped into the Great Hall looking scared out of their minds . . . with the exception of one little girl. She was considerably smaller than the other kids (at least a head shorter than the next-to-smallest one) with short dark hair and wide blue eyes. Her size made her stand out . . . that and the fact she was soaking wet as were the two boys and one girl standing around her. They didn't look to happy about the fact they were wet, though she had a huge grin on her face. Which was promptly wiped off when the Sorting Hat started to sing. She jumped back and fell over into the arms of the one of the boys who looked like he wanted nothing more than to drop her. Fortunately, she stood up of her own accord before he had the chance.
"Ayers, Janie."
"Ravenclaw!"
"Ayers, Michael."
"Hufflepuff!" This continued for quite some time until . . . .
"Jones, Leviticus." The little girl walked up the hall walking on the hem of her too long robe and sliding every few steps. It didn't help any that she was shaking like . . . something that shakes really bad. She sat down and put on the Hat. It was huge by normal hat standards, but on this little girl it looked fit for a giant. They sat there for going on five minutes when the little girl mumbled something that sounded like, "Are you asleep?"
"No! I am not asleep! YOU are very difficult, Miss Jones. You are more than willing to get yourself killed if a friend is in danger, but you have a strong self-preservation streak. Unless it is something you want to do, you are one of the laziest individuals I have ever encountered and due to that laziness, even though you are a genius (perhaps 'evil genius' is a better term) you do not apply yourself. I suppose being an evil genius implies a certain level of cunning and you do like a good practical joke. I'm going to put you in Slytherin, if that's okay."
The little girl mumbled something that sounded like, "I don't care."
"Slytherin it is then." The students sat there shocked. Never before had the Hat let them in on the decision-making process. And in this case, it wasn't exactly very scientific. The little girl sat there a while longer. "Why will you not get up?" She mumbled something unintelligible. "What do you mean you are stuck?" She mumbled something else, softer this time. "I cover the top of your shoulders?" The little girl mumbled something else. "What do you mean you 'can't breathe'? Why can you not breathe?" The Hat waited for a moment before yelling. "Get her out from under here!" Professor Dumbledore, the Transfiguration professor, rushed forward and freed the little girl. She started breathing very deeply with her eyes still closed. When she finally calmed down, she opened her eyes and stared into Dumbledore's.
"Hi." She had an odd accent; obviously English, but there was something else there that no one could quite put their finger on. And with that Leviticus Jones stood up and walked to the Slytherin table like nothing had happened.
Finally, after Zabini, Hephaestus had been sorted into Slytherin, Headmaster Daedalus stood up and spread his arms wide to begin his "Begin of Term" speech.
"Welcome to another wonderful year at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. We have a wonderful group of first year students this year; may they make us all proud and live up to your upper classmen's standards. The first years (and some other students) would do well to remember that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden as is the third floor, the dungeons when classes are not in session, the grounds after dark, and any part of the school other than your common room or dorm after midnight. Also, all third years and above need to have their Hogsmeade letters turned in by Wednesday or they will be unable to go on the first Hogsmeade weekend.
"Now in detention news: Miss Jones. You will be serving two weeks of detention with Professor Trewlans (your head of house and Potions master) for that little stunt on the train with the water balloons. After that you will be serving one week with Professor Dumbledore (the Transfiguration master) for that little stunt on the train with the pudding. After that you will be serving an additional week with Madam Pomfrey (the school nurse) for turning the boat over. Be glad I am doing nothing about you freaking out and hitting the giant squid. This starts tomorrow. I am very disappointed in you. This is the earliest that we have ever had to give out a detention let alone three! Never before has anyone gotten in trouble before they even got to school. Never before has a first year caused so much trouble in the first week. Also, Mr. Montgomery would do well to remember that he has two days of detention left over from last year. You will serve those with Miss Jones and Professor Trewlans. You will all do well to think about Miss Jones' and Mr. Montgomery's punishments and remember them whenever you decide to cause trouble. Finally, eat."
The food appeared on the table terrifying most of the first years. Tom Riddle had to laugh at the look on 'Miss Jones's' face. She acted like she had never seen anything appear before. Then, he too got lost in the excitement of great food, decent company, and the wonderful atmosphere of being out of the orphanage.
When the first years had finished eating, they started asking about each other's pasts.
"My mother is on the Committee for Experimental Charms and my father is on the Wizarding Council. The Minister of Magic comes over to eat dinner with us at least once a month," a particular snooty and loud first year was saying exuberantly. Most of the others were listening in rapture, but one little girl was having a hard time not laughing. Unfortunately, the boy noticed this. "Well, then Miss Detention, what do your parents do?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing! How can your parents do nothing?"
"I don't have any." Suddenly, Tom realized where he had seen this little girl before and hoped to God she wouldn't say anything about it.
"How can you not have parents?" the particularly dense boy was saying now. "Everyone has parents."
"I don't. I had them at one time, but now . . . "
"Well, I don't understand . . . "
"She's an orphan, jackass," a slightly attractive blond said. The boy looked down in disgust at the girl.
"What kind of witch would let herself be killed?" he asked pushing back his white-blond hair. Tom knew the answer to this question and intervened.
"Levi. That's your name right? Will you pass me the salt while I punch the idiot?" Levi laughed and Tom felt something odd. It was something he had never felt before.
"I'll give you the salt, but God says we shouldn't hit people so maybe you should just yell at him. A lot."Levi laughed again andTom realized what he felt. Joy. He liked helping her.
"How's everything going, Levi?" Everyone turned and faced the girl who had talked. She was fairly tall with long caramel coloured hair with honey highlights, wide green eyes, and a smattering of freckles across her nose. She was the most beautiful girl Tom had ever seen and she was wearing a Prefect badge. His heart stopped beating. "What? I volunteer with the Big Brother/Big Sister program at the orphanage. Can't a girl ask her little sister how things are going?" Tom's heart turned to lead in his chest when he realized something horrible about her. She was a Gryffindor.
"Everything's cool, Shibby."
"None of the Slytherins giving you a hard time?" Shibby asked concerned.
"Any of the Griffindors giving you a hard time?"
"No. Why would they? I'm part of their house . . . " Suddenly, a light turned on in Shibby's head. "Ahhh. Don't you get smart with me."
"I can't help it, Shibby. I am smart."Levi crinkled her face into a disgusted look as Shibby kissed her on the forehead. "Must you do that?"
"Yes. Big Sisters are supposed to embarrass people. It's what we do."
"Well, go find someone else to embarrass," she said as she made shooing motions with her hands. "Go. Search. Flee. Shoo."
"I'll be back," the Gryffindor said as she walked back towards her table laughing.
"Don't I know it," Levi muttered under her breath. Everyone was standing up to leave the Great Hall now and Tom wove his way down to the first years.
"First years, follow me. You," he said grabbing Levi's hand, "will walk in front of me so you don't get lost to lose more points." He pushed her in front of him and walked out into the halls glancing over his shoulder to make sure the others were far enough behind for them to talk. "None of my friends know so if you would, please don't tell anyone."
"I won't. I know how you feel about living with...muggles?"
"That's the right term. Thank you, Levi. Thank you so much. I don't think I've ever seen your 'sister' before. How old is she?" Tom asked nonchalantly.
"Fifth year. Just like you. Maybe it's 'Shibby.' Everybody calls her that, but her name is Sherbert. Sherbert Lindstrom actually." Levi appeared to be preoccupied with trying to hold her robes up.
"No. We had to have been at prefect meetings together; how can I not know her?"
"You're both very bookish, Tom. And you kinda have this thing for the Dark Arts. That scares her a little."
"Wait a tic; she talked to you about me?" Tom said excitedly, pulling Levi to a dead stop in the middle of the hall.
"A little."
"What did she say?"
"I wasn't sworn to secrecy." Tom waited for Levi to finish.
"What'd she say?" he erupted.
"She's my sister; I'm not telling."
"Damn all muggle-borns."
How do you like it? Should I continue? Click the little blue button to tell me what you think. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism welcome. (First reviewer gets his/her name in story.)
