Disclaimer: I do not own Tom Riddle, Charlus Potter, Dorea Black, Minerva McGonagall, James Potter, Lily Evans, or Harry James Potter. Nor do I own the names in the orphanage. Those belong to the illustrious J.K. Rowling.
I do have some rights to Aislin Swann-Thanatos, Jamie McGonagall, Desdemona Barklin, and Dylan Diggory. I also have some rights to Thomas James Riddle, Alice Isabelle Riddle, Skandar Jonathan Riddle, Aurora (Rory) Lillian Riddle, Allison Diana Diggory, Amos Dylan Diggory, and Saphira Aislin Riddle.
They were born on the exact same day. The boy, born of a disfigured and destitute woman abandoned by her husband, was born in the morning, just before dawn. He had dark brown hair and serious dark blue eyes, even as a newborn. His name was Tom Marvolo Riddle, named for his father and grandfather. His mother died within an hour of his birth.
She was born in the evening, just after sunset. Her mother was beautiful, rich, and married, but unwilling to support a bastard daughter. Her hair was fiery red, laced through with golden strands. Unusual eyes, a mix of cerulean and silver, shone with solemn understanding the first time she opened them. Her name was Aislin Victoria Swann, named for her mother's Irish heritage and regal bearing. Her mother left the orphanage within an hour of her birth.
The two children barely interacted as they grew. She watched him sometimes, and he did the same occasionally, but they did not speak, and rarely acknowledged the existence of the other. But that changed the day they both turned seven years old.
The orphanage children had gone out for a trip to the seaside, and the other waifs were rapidly becoming bored. Luckily for them, they found their two favorite targets sitting slightly near each other on the beach, staring out across the ocean. The leaders of the boys and girls' individual groups, Dennis Bishop and Amy Benson, had the bright idea to tease and taunt them together. For, they reasoned, when going against two, two groups are better than one. So they did. The girls dragged Aislin over to where the boys surrounded Tom, pushing her into him. They righted themselves cautiously, looking up at the other children.
The children smiled maliciously and surrounded them, beginning to push and shove. Neither of the two reacted, except to inch a little closer to each other. The children threw out taunts, but when the duo continued to stay silent, they grew angry, especially Dennis and Amy. So they went farther. They pushed the pale children to the ground, kicking and punching them. Still, they didn't make a sound. Amy and Dennis attacked furiously, calling them freaks, retards, bastard and bitch, and they finally reacted. Aislin looked up at them, her face bruising rapidly. "Go away. Leave us alone." Her voice was layered with harsh demand, and dumbstruck, not really knowing what they were doing, the children nodded dumbly and left, talking amongst themselves. It was as though the abuse session had never happened.
Tom looked at her. "Thank you." His voice was refined and mature, far too jaded for a seven year old. She nodded, meeting his eyes for the first time. As darkened blue and bright silvery-cerulean gazed at each other, subtle magic crackled in the air around them.
Far away, in a place unknown to the two, an old, battered quill picked itself up and dipped its tip into an inkpot. Turning to the book in front of it, it wrote in slow, deliberate movements.
Tom Marvolo Riddle (vampire dominant: Riddle line) and Aislin Victoria Swann-Thanatos (faerie submissive: Thanatos line): Primary Contact; First Bond Completed
Tom and Aislin were ten years old the summer they received their Hogwarts letters. The two had become close, developing an intimate relationship. They knew everything about each other. Aislin knew of Tom's darker tendencies, his wishes to extinguish the children and matrons who hated, feared, and abused them. Tom knew of Aislin's silent desire to hurt enough that it would be permissible to take away the pain. He knew of the shallow cuts on her slim wrists, the cuts that he had never allowed to go deep enough to spill too much blood.
Albus Dumbledore was surprised to find two quiet, polite children waiting for him. They showed virtually no emotion, other than slight satisfaction at the statement that they were different. In another world, a Tom Riddle who never known Aislin Swann would have shown his darker tendencies, would have given back that which he stole. This Tom had never stolen anything, had never hung a rabbit from the rafters, though he had led two children into a cave and frightened them into slight insanity. But what could they say? Amy and Dennis deserved it. Aislin Swann had held him back, balancing his Dark with her Grey-tinted Light. She had taught him the importance of patience – for they knew they were special, but the other children had no talent at all. In the end, they would be the shining ones, while all the others rotted away into obscurity. Aislin taught Tom to love and cherish, while he taught her revenge and secrecy. They balanced each other, her yang to his yin.
The two children left to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Knowing that they would be different; they would be special.
"Riddle, Tom!" As Tom slipped the hat onto his head, the last thing he saw before the darkness on the inside of the hat was the small smile on Aislin's face.
Aislin? Ah… the hat murmured. What talent lies within you, Mr. Riddle…and oh yes, this can certainly not be ignored…yes; I think you'll do well in SLYTHERIN!
Tom took off the hat and put it on the stool before catching Aislin's eyes. She smiled gently and nodded her head towards the Slytherin table, and he went.
"Swann, Aislin!" Aislin placed the hat on her gold-laced locks, and it slid down over her eyes.
Aislin…so you are the one young Mr. Riddle thought of…ah, what's this? A faerie descendant? How interesting…you will do well with Mr. Riddle in SLYTHERIN!
Aislin smiled to herself and removed the hat. People were whispering quietly at their tables, looking from her to Tom in evident curiousity. One muggle-born in Slytherin was strange enough, but two? She walked over to the green-adorned table gracefully, sitting down across from Tom. He gave her a small, secret smile that she returned. They would reign over Slytherin.