Disclaimer: Everythings mine apart from the story and the people you don't know in it. enjoy 3

Chapter One:

Among the Serpents

I caught my breath. My feet, aching from walking in endless circles came to a halt at a rather ominous gargoyle statue.

I felt my knees tremble as I wanted to dump myself on the floor so badly but instead I spoke as clear as possible.

"Verity"

The gargoyle came alive and turned revealing a narrow long staircase I was destined to ascend. And so I did I walked higher until I reached a second landing, a large door with a brass handle.

A friendly warm voice spoke from the room beyond it.

"Do come in Ms. Ravine, I have been expecting you"

I gulped; I had wandered for a long time and knew I was late for my appointment with the Headmaster in my time trying to find his office.

The door drew open and I walked into the most beautiful room I had ever seen. Decorated with portraits of the former Heads and many enchanted objects I soon realised my daze.

"I apologise..Professor Dippet, I confess I've been stupidly trying to find your..office in these splendid halls" I said attempting a smile butwas unsuccesfulin not looking nervous.

The elderly man with a long white beard sitting at his desk laughed heartily and a chair magically withdrew from his table he ushered me to sit down.

"Do not worry dear, do not worry it is more my turn to apologise for not sending you a guide.. Dear me it is an awfully large place and it is inevitable you would get lost in it, forgive me my old mind is functioning to its end…I see you have your papers from Incantato…ah yes Sofia, a great witch indeed and a prestigious school she has founded…I am honoured you come to Hogwarts"

I smiledmore genuinely this time, andsitting down comfertablyhandedDippet my papers. Papers handed about me from my previous school, a small private academy where they were high in academics (as well as fellow snobs in my year..but that just came along with the word "private").

I looked down at my hands, entwining my fingers together anxious to hear his reply.Was I okay? Good enough? Downright poor?I wondered…

He suddenly spoke and I snapped my gaze upwards.

"Excuse me a moment dear I need to consult my deputy headmaster upon a matter, I shall be back in a few minutes, do make yourself comfortable", with that the old man rose and left his office leaving me more bewildered than ever.

I was hoping for a straight answer. I guess everything in my life had to be a puzzle. I needed a school badly in Britian and Hogwarts was by far one of the best and most reknown in Europe.

I crossed my fingers so much I had red marks afterwards that It would be alright.

The door opened once more and two people entered, the Headmaster and another taller man who could be mistaken for his brother apart from the fact he looked younger and his hair was more auburn coloured.

I immediately felt his presence as he entered, Ishakily stood up,

The other man, I assumed the deputy headmaster smile at me, his brilliant blue eyes twinkling delightfully.

He leaned forward and offered his hand; in pure amazement I shook it.

"Congratulations Ms. Ravine, I daresay I will be honoured to have you in my Transfiguration class. I am Professor Dumbledore."

"Good evening Professor" I replied in my own modesty. I was still confused; it was if Dumbledore had read my mind when he next added.

"Alas you must be wondering dear, you have of course been accepted to Hogwarts no one would refuse such a talented student as yourself.It wouldbe a great favour if you accept one request from the school in your joining?"

I automatically nodded my head; I did really need an education quickly.

"We would be delighted if you would take up the position of Head Girl this year"

My jaw dropped.

Head Girl?

You can't be serious...

The Headmaster; Dippet seemed amused at my shock and laughed

"Do not be so surprised my dear, although it must be a great surprise. Madame Sofia has mentioned many great things about you, excellent student, hardworking, mature, responsibile. Our intentional Head Girl has recently left the school to move to Durmstang...it is a last minute decision of Albus's and mine but do not doubt it my deare, to be wise enough"

I nodded. Lost for words, I blushed with the praise. As bad as I was at giving compliments, I was even worse at recieving them.

"Excellent" said Dumbledore opening the door once more that I walked towards. "The sorting is about to finish so now we must hurry to get you sorted Ms. Ravine, I am sure the sorting hat shall find you a right place. I'm also certain Tom will be kind enough to show you the Head's dormitories I would do it myself but I am afraid I had business to attend to tonight. The Great Hall is straight ahead you've passed it before yes? Good Luck"

I walked down the steps and once out of sight ran for the Great Hall, I had seen it and it was not so simple distance the Transfiguration teacher had spoken, It was a long walk and I ran fast, my heart thudding with a strange anxiety and excitement. I finally halted, pausing for breath in front of the large wooden doors of the Great Hall.

Was I meant to just enter? Or would someone take me?

Thankfully someone did arrive, a tall young woman with glasses and her dark hair in an extrodinarily tight bun. She walked rather quickly and I felt more rushed at her pace.

"You must be Tamzine Ravine, I am Professor McGonagall there is not much time, follow me and you shall be sorted into your house I will announce your coming I apologise…Professor Dumbledore could not be present", she said in a recongizable scottish accent and talked quicker than she walked.

"Yes of course" I replied and hastily followed her into the hall. There were four long tables each with different colours, blue, green, red and yellow. Ribbons and banners of their houses everywhere. Four houses, I thought, it will be intriguing which one I am sorted into. I glanced at the surprise and curiosity among many faces as I walked into the hall, it was clear that she was notyour typical first year sorting but it still felt weird hearing people whisper about me.

I almost smiled, wait till they heard I had been made Head Girl too they must have wondered the absence of one on their journey there. I myself wondered about my other Head, the one the Headmaster had so proudly talked about as the finest student Hogwarts had ever seen. I looked up at the starry ceiling I was told and impressed by the way it reflected the weather outside…I wonder what it would be like in winter when it snowed or in a thunderstorm?

McGonagall walked quickly up to the platform where I saw a very tatty old hat on a stool and a small boy walking away from it. He must have been sorted, so that must be the sorting hat.

She cleared her throat and said her voice echoing throughout the hall.

"This year I would like you all to welcome a transfer student from the Incantato Academy of Italy, Ms. Tamzine Ravine who is currently in seventh year and will also proceed to be our Head Girl this year so I am sure all of you will be acquainted with Ms. Ravine…now for her sorting" The thin woman smiled at me and gestured for me to sit on the stool. I did so trying to ignore the waves of voice chattering around me, questioning and curious as ever.

Professor McGonagall placed the withered pointed hat on my head; I felt my hair tingle at its touch.

A deep voice entered my thoughts, I jumped with surprise thankfully though the hat remained on my head or that would have been an embarrasing moment.

Ah a Ravine, I wondered if I were ever to see one of your family sorted within these halls. This is a surprising encounter and for you too, is it not? A knowledgable mind, a little sharp no doubt...

A small smile escaped my lips

Head Girl they've made you hey? A last minute decision of Dumbledores I see, a wise choice. Destined for a greatness you are...you'll help students within these walls and in particular those who seem impossible to reach.

I was utterly confused at this moment. I hated being confused.

Dear me how difficult to sort, with all the attributes of all four houses you possess. The perseverance of a Hufflepuff but courage lies in Gryffindor does it not? But alas many see you as Ravenclaw…witty and eager to learn. Good good then there is Slytherin yes look to your left the serpent house of cunning and ambition, ambition is your secret to success.

I quickly looked to my left at the table decorated in dark green and shimmering silver, I felt my heart stop. The Slytherins with their sneering faces, I had heard of the house. A house of purebloods, proud of their heritage of course. It was an instant impression of dislike.

Oh alas you must go where destiny decides and I am afraid your wishes may not want it. But after all Slytherins are for greatness and greatness as I have said you will achieve.

A time, forgive, I sort a student into a house not of her preference.

"SLYTHERIN!"

"What?" I said a little too loudly. I was definately in a place Ididn't belong right? Could you change your house?

I looked around at the other three tables who instantly disliked me after that moment, I sighed. I guess not.

Even McGonagall looked surprised, she must have saw my face of terror and shock for her smile was sympathising yet cold.

I walked my hands in my pocket since my fingers were shaking to the Slytherin table. They had applauded me with a quiet hostility.

A rather gaunt looking boy around my age with sunken hollowed eyes took out a seat for me. I hesitated for a moment but sat down beside him.

He glanced at the Head Badge that glimmered on my robes, he laughed and began talking to his fellow house mates around him, I was relived for a moment I thought they were going to ignore me.

But I was wrong.

"Would you look at that? Tom will be pleased, his co-Head is in his house, I knew they wouldn't pick some mudblood Gryffindor"

I tried to restrain any comment on the word "mudblood", this was obviously the least the Slytherins' did to insult others.

A blonde girl turned to me, a smirk on her pointy little face as she asked.

"So who are you…Tamzine? Aren't the Ravines a pureblood family?"

I knew the question was coming, they all judged you on your name and status but I knew deep down I was not to be interrogated since they probably would be satisfied.

"Yeah...My parents passed away when I was too young to remember, I'm an only child...My grandparents moved here because of family business issues"

They looked around nodding to each other and then spoke to me with a little more acceptance. I guess I learned something from them then if I was to spend the next year with them...be cold and unemotionalto survive.

"I'm Lorelei Malfoy, this is Melinda Dolohov, Rovalas Lestrange, Damien Avery, Theodore Nott, George Goyle, Arvock Avery, Augustus Rookwood and…" the blonde haired girl paused and smiled as she waved her hand to a tall boy who walked towards the Slytherin table to a seat beside her.

"Tom Riddle"

I felt myself almost freeze when I heard his name, there was something about it. And something about the way she said it, in a awed soft whisper. Tom Riddle...

I caught sight the striking dark eyes of the young man not boy who had just taken a seat opposite me. He was without a doubt, extrodinarilyhandsome, with chiselled perfect features and neat, slightly waving black hair that constrated with his pale skin. The Head Boy badge glistened silver on his chest. So this was the most brilliant student Hogwarts had ever seen.

"Who is our new Slytherin?" he asked, his voice deep and smooth.

"Her names Tamzine Ravine. Tomshe's the one whose Head Girl this year" said Lorelei who was gazing at Tom like he was some sort of God.

His eyes turned towards me, deep but empty dark eyes.

"Evening Ravine, you probably know I'm Tom Riddle, Head Boy evidently in seventh year. I was actually looking for you since I see you've finished your meal I am to show you to your Head dormitory."

I stood up and smiled nonchalantly at him.

"How kind of you, well I'm certainly full so lead the way"

Tom arched an eyebrow coolly and swiftly turned leaving the Great Hall, I followed. We walked up the moving staircases in silence.

"I forgot to say" he said breaking the silence without turning around to face me, "Welcome to Slytherin House, we pride ourselves at being the most worthy and intelligent house..I hope you will do well to contribute to that" he spoke with a coolness but it seemed more like threat.

Be good, do what I say, don't confront me; don't do anything to disgrace us

He was assuming I was a quiet little girl. There was a silence as my own eyes locked with Riddles. I was surprised at myself, holding his gaze. I wondered if he was really like that, what I thought of him or maybe he was different? The brilliant handsome popular student of Hogwarts.

I left his gaze, no I was right, maybe the only person who saw it. It was there, his eyes holding adeep emptiness

"I'll try my best" I replied evenly. Tom turned around and continued walking and didn't look at me again.

"I hear you're from a foreign pureblood family" he commented

"My father is Italian, my mother half German half English...they died when I was three years old"

My heart ached but I held everything not to show it. My absence of parents, my lonely childhood..these things I lived and were part of me. I wanted to hold dignity, not wanting him to know me. I refused to let him know me. I had already become a Slytherin, I thought sadly, Learnt to become a cold exterior to others.

"Unfortunate Ravine" replied Tom as if I had lost a quill or something, "Well here we are this is the portrait of Solomon Slavac, the infamous dark arts dueller"

I looked up for a moment at the imperial dark portrait of Slavac, whose nose was high as the world record could go.

"The password" continued Tom looking at me, "Is haud metus"

"No fear"

"Impressive, you're latin" his tone was dry and almost sarcastic in reply. I should have been nicer to him, I could tell he disliked me already.

The portrait swung open and the Head Boy swung his long legs over the doorway, a light illuminated the whole room as we entered.

This was the common room I guessed, it was decorated elaborately in green and silver with serpents among the walls as well. I took note that I was in Slytherin and so was Riddle and that was why everything was green.

There was one large fire flaming in the corner of the room and a circle of several velvet armchairs, books on the shelves and decorative ornaments like gold vases and exotic plants. A wide mahogany staircase trailed up in the centre of the room and finished at a landing where two seperate staircases went in opposite ways.

"Which one is my room?" I asked, walking up the wide staircase.

"There is a HG and a HB engraved" said Tom pointing to the green staircase where there clearly was a "HB".

Ack. He did know how to make you feel stupid.

I rolled my eyes and walked up my own silver staircase to my door which was thankfully made of brown wood not silver. My eyes were kind of being blinded by too much silver by then and so when I opened the door I was glad to see the colours were neutral inside.

My bed was the largest I have ever seen in my life and that's compared to the one in my Grandparent's room.

I immediately feeling that irresistible temptation lunged on the bed, diving into the pillow. I sighed in comfort and then sat up. Well jumped up since I had a nice surprise of..

Tom was standing, leaning at my door looking at me in a sneering kind of way after a few moments he said in a rather amused tone.

"Glad to see you've settled in well Ravine. I just came to tell you there is a prefects meeting tomorrow at 6pm and here is your timetable, I happen to be your partner in many of these subjects due to alphabetical reasons" he paused and looked at me in dissaproval most probably cursing the alphabet in his head. Or his father's surname, or me. But to think of it I have never heard of a Riddle pureblood family, perhaps he was european too, but he had no trace of any accent unlike my own though I did attend a school which spoke English perhaps he the same? ButI was not sure, maybe he was not a pureblood at all...there were not many in the world...but how did he then become so respected?

"So I hope your grades are up to scratch, I truly would detest doing all of the labour though it really is nothing, but what I will detest is being in the company of a juvenile airhead for all of my potions lessons"

He left with that and it was for his own good as I was fighting the great temptation to thwack his perfect little face with my king sized pillow.

Aaaargh..this is going to be a long torturing year with that bastard.

I have to be partners with him too. The swot. Thinks he's it all, oh so great...let me kiss your feet...HRH of Slytherin

I'm usually nice to people on first encounter..so he must seriously be evil...

My work will rival those of Tom Riddle, the most brilliant talented evil student Hogwarts has ever seen.

I'll be greater than him.

Greater bastard...

I've now started talking to myself..I bet Riddle doesn't sit and talk about how much he hates me...

Or maybe he sits thinking of hexes to try on you tomorrow...while you're laying there being a vulnerable twit.

Right now I need some pyschological help.

As if i don't have enough problems...

A/N:

Hellos hope you liked the first chapter. It's my first little ficlet and I love and hate it all at once.

After decades (exaggeration) of reading fan fiction I decided to write my own!

The story...hmmmm...next time the diary(s) make their appearence..

Next chapter is called: Pages of Pearls

Please review it means so much to me, and totally makes my day! love you loveys!

Thank you for reading!

petit filous. x