A Harry Potter FanFic

Featuring Tom Riddle (6th year)
and introducing Celeste Montague of Beauxbaton's -
My first ever - please review.


Chapter One

The Tom Riddle of 16 years assembled with his classmates from Slytherin in the entrance hall. They were all discussing their summers - a conversation during which Tom stayed quiet and subdued. In fact, it was a good chance to plot harmless tricks and pranks to play on the first-years... a pastime that he enjoyed heartily, especially as he never ever was caught or even suspected of involvement. However, after a few good pranks, the idea became lame to Tom as he gained no credit for his handiwork. Nevertheless, he enjoyed watching the first-years squeal in shock or horror. And a new bunch this year! How splendid it would be to give them a 'proper' hogwarts welcome, or perhaps a slitherin 'ritual' to make the new ones seem... at home...

"Tom? What about you? Meet any pretty muggles over your summer?"

It was Randall, notorious for his interest in feminine beauty. His antics had gained him quite a dishonorable reputation at Hogwarts, but he was an asset to Tom. Randall had great knowlegde concerning jinxes and curses, and had perfected many a love potion or sleeping draught. Although naughty, he was a very bright boy, and full of the Slytherin spirit: Gryffindors are scum.

"Oh." Tom began, flashing the boys a dazzling smile. "That would be between Lilabel and I." Of course Lilabel was a fictional character, but Tom found no guilt in lies.

The boys began to hoot and dance around like monkeys, firing questions at him with eager eyes.

"So you had it on with a muggle, then"
"Was she really into you, or did you slip a love potion into her pumpkin juice"
"What was she like"
"Was she a blonde one, or a brunette"
"Did you show her any magic?"

Tom grinned. "Not 'hogwarts' kind of magic..."

The group erupted into laughter and fits of gorrilla-like noises, and would have bombarded Tom with crude questions had the doors not opened at that precise moment, revealing the great hall. As usual, four tables lined the hall, and floating candles eluminated this room of the large castle better than a Lumos charm. The teachers - all except for Professor MaGonagal, who was ushering the large mass of students into the hall - were seated behind a grand table at the back. Dumbledore was a small smudge of emerald green and brilliant white, standing behind an ornamental lecturn, beaming positively with rays of sunshine and excitement.

Tom breathed a sigh of relief. He was home again, back to the place where nobody looked down at him. Even the teachers treated him as if some holy idol. Here he was respected. Here he was welcome.

The 6th-year Slytherin boys took a seat at their house table and the conversation broke off into small sections as they met up with people that hadn't been seen in ages. Tom found himself next to Will, a boy from ireland who made some good galleons trading forbidden goods from hogsmeade to fellow slytherins - or even hufflepuffs and ravenclaws, if trusted, but never gryffindors - for a lumpy price. On Tom's other side was a younger girl with green eyes and wavy black hair, a very pretty thing named Elle. Tom turned to her and flashed her a dazzling smile that left Elle battling for oxygen.

The hall was silenced as Dumbledore raised his arms, so that they emerged from the sleeves by a fair few inches. His brilliant eyes, magnified by crescent-moon glasses, were alight with eagerness. He began to speak.

"Welcome, Welcome! All of you have travelled a long way to return here tonight, so all I will say is a few words - blubber, tibble and sqap!"

The first-years were taken aback by their headmaster's idea of a few words, and under Professor MaGonagal's instruction proceeded to be sorted into their houses.

Tom watched as slytherin gained a beefy boy with a slick haircut, a tiny girl with a rat in her pocket, another girl with beady eyes and a boy with rather large teeth.

Dumbledore spoke again. "How exciting this is! But, you must all be famished! Now you may eat!"

And at once the empty dishes filled with food and the jugs and glasses with pumpkin juice. There were slices of roast beef, chicken drumsticks, potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pasties, peas and salads. The students greedily began to load their plates with food, but Tom, who was never too hungry, reached for and apple and began to eat slowly.

As he ate, his eyes scanned the great hall and wandered over to the teacher's table. On the very end, there was a girl in a blue silk uniform. She was, without doubt, the most beautiful thing Tom had ever seen. He hadn't ever felt this feeling before - he genuinely wanted to go and talk to her, befriend her, entrust her with secrets. But as the girl returned his gaze, quite by chance, Tom immediately averted his eyes and began a random conversation about Quidditch.

Later, after the crumbs of dessert had been licked clean from the plates, Dumbledore began a new speech. This was repeated most years - forbidden prank items will be confiscated by Mr Filch, anyone who ventures into the Dark Forest after hours will be punished, new teacher for such-and-such-a-subject and new head boy and girl.

"And lastly, but definately not least," Dumbledore announced, "Some of you may have noticed a student at the teacher's table. This year, we have begun a student exchange program with our sisters at Beaxbaton School of Witchcraft. I now have the pleasure to introduce Miss Celeste Montague, who I expect will be treated like a fellow student of Hogwarts. She will sleep in the Gryffindor Girl's Chambers with the 6th Years, and I will have Proffessor Magonagal assign somebody to show her to class. That is all I have to say - and I'm sure you are all itching to snuggle up in your dormitories - so, go! Go and have a good night of rest as your classes start first-thing tomorrow."

The hall was filled with the sound of benches scraping against the floor as the mass of students began to meander back to their corridors. Tom joined his peers and descended the steps into the dungeon.

"Hi, Tom!" called a smooth, familiar voice. Tom turned and put on a welcoming smile as a young Bellatrix LeStrange lept into his arms. Although this closeness caused Tom to cringe inside, he patted her fondly on the shoulder - just to keep up appearences. He didn't care for Bellatrix - the reason he kept her so close was her wickedness, a trait Tom found useful. They shared a passion for the dark arts and often sat during free periods discussing forbidden topics such as the unforgivable curses, and the secrets of dark magic no adult would willingly talk about.

"Hello, Bellatrix. How was your summer?" He cooed as she jumped back with a wicked grin. They began to walk side by side into the common room, which was filled with excited buzzing.

"Fascinating." she said, and then quickly checked for eavesdroppers. They leant closer towards each other and Bellatrix whispered, "I stole one of my great uncle's books on experimental curses. He's so mad, he won't notice. I though we could try some out on unsuspecting first-years!" Bellatrix let out a menacing cackle, and to be polite, Tom laughed too.

"I best be off." she said.

"Oh, yes. Good night, Bellatrix." Tom farewelled, though he did not care at all should Bellatrix have a good night or bad. In fact, he did not care for anyone. To him, his peers were like tools that he had been given the task of sharpening.

But as Tom glided gracefully up the stairs to his Dormitory, where Randall and Will would be waiting, he couldn't help but hope the Beauxbaton's student, Celeste, would sleep well. It was strange for him, to genuinely want to befriend someone, show them around Hogwarts to places she would otherwise miss. He would be a good friend for her, even if she was sleeping in the same room as filthy Gryffindoor blood traitors and muddies. He screwed up his nose at this as if smelling a stinky shoe. A new kind of excitment came when he realized that he might be able to persuade her to come over to Slytherin's side. Yes, that was a good idea.

But anything - and everything - had to wait until morning.