Chapter 1

It was a cold November Saturday in 1938 when she was brought into the orphanage. At the time Tom Marvolo Riddle was sat in the far corner of the dinner hall, assessing the tiny girl whom he guessed was about seven. After a while he shifted his focus to the rest of the room scanning for any threats when his eyes rested on Johnny. The bruise under his right eye twitched as he recalled the beating that he had earlier received. He knew that he wasn't like the other children here, even at ten years old he knew he was different and consequently so did the others.

Alice already didn't like it here. Everything was large and scary, even the tables. After being introduced to everyone, people around her age at a table looked at her expectantly. They were welcoming her to join them but she couldn't physically bring herself to, their eyes were too dark and their voices were too loud so instead she ran with her food far away into the quite back corner. She wasn't much of a talker herself, in fact when alive her mother even took her to a healer about her shyness but it turned out to be just who she was.

When she arrived at the back table it seemed empty until she saw an older boy sat alone. Hopefully he wouldn't be mean she thought as she sat down directly across from him and began eating without a word. All round she could hear the quite murmur of whispers and she wondered what had happened. As she looked up to investigate a pair of black eyes stopped her, the boy across was just sat there staring straight at her now worried face.

"Little girl I wouldn't sit there if I was you, dear Tommy is not someone you want to associate with." Not wanting to talk to the boy she simply didn't reply so he carried on, "Come with me and I'll show you where to sit, there's a nice spot for you way over there."

She shook her head slowly and the room filled with quite gasps and then he said, "Well ok it's your choice I suppose but when you want to leave him because you will very soon, give me a shout and I'll take care of you."

Alice heard him sit back down and she exhaled in relief and then looked down and carried on eating. This was enough drama to last her a lifetime, her heart was pounding and her head was spinning until the boy across from her said in a very quite tone, "You should do as he says, girl."

She flinched at the harsh noise and looked up to meet his dead eyes. She didn't want to speak to the boy but also didn't want to be rude, she had sat at his table after all, so gathering all of her inner strength she whispered very slowly, "T-t-there umm, th-they. . . loud." It didn't make sense and made her look weak, an unwise trait in a new and strange place. At times like this she loathed that speaking aloud never came easily to her.

Tom looked at her with conflict clear in his eyes, nobody ever chose to stay around him unless need be. Many people had, in fact, had compared his presence to one of an evil spirit however she didn't seem to sense it. Could this be a chance at friendship? He quickly shook himself out of it, of course not, she was a pretty, little girl who and he was Tom Riddle, the freak. Unless she was different like him, it was a possibility, he supposed but there was no proof. But if she was by the slightest of chances imagine. . . He stopped himself, fantasising like that was pointless, he was alone on this earth and always will be.

They didn't talk for the rest of the meal, both lost in thoughts that normal children didn't have.

After dinner Alice was escorted to her new room which was placed next to an older girl called Grace who seemed nice although rather chatty. Apparently there was no real order to the orphanage and people were just placed where another had gone.

This place was always full and there was no time for the staff to make personal connections, the whole organisation was dehumanised and the effect it had on the children was chronic especially to the child only two doors down from Alice herself.

Reading kept her from crying and in a place like this once you started you didn't stop. Despite her only being seven she found herself walking to the library and not the playground during her free time. It was one of the smallest collection of books she had ever seen but it would suffice her hunger for escape.

Tom Riddle sat reading in a novel that wasn't worth his time, it was so dull, in fact that during it he was also planning to borrow a few more of the texts from school. He was far beyond any book in this place so when the mysterious girl entered he focused his attention on her instead. After slight hesitation she picked up one of the worst books here called 'The Secret Garden' and then sat across from him in the only available seat. Quickly she began reading the battered book obviously not expecting to be disturbed but today that wouldn't be the case.

"It's not worth the read." Tom surprised himself by breaking the comfortable silence.

She glanced up briefly and smiled with innocent, bright eyes. The book was something that her mother used to read to her so although she didn't quite understand all the words, the connection to home through the pages comforted her dearly. Alice had no idea how a place like this worked but hopefully her quietness would get her ignored so she could go about life peacefully. Having a friend would be nice but due to her lack of talking it was always very difficult, especially when considering the fact that every other person her age was very, very loud. Maybe the older boy would be different?

"What's your name?"

Unlike in the hall where she had been obliged to reply due to her ingrained courtesy towards strangers, now was different. The boy seemed much more at ease and he even lowered his voice probably guessing her shyness but not knowing the full extent of it.

The two syllable word stuck in her throat and she knew she wouldn't mange it. He could have been her only chance at a friend and instead of answering the simple question, she was sat there breathing rather heavily and panicking. Looking around her eyes focused on the title of his book and she sighed in relief.

She pointed at the title and Tom observed what she was indicating, "Oh don't tell me that you like this book as-" She shook her head having never heard of the book whilst pointing again, more specifically at the name. He looked at her with understanding the second time and said, "Your names Alice. Hopefully not like the mad girl in this book".

She smiled at his recognition, happy that he hadn't judged her on the lack of speech. It was nice for a while, just sitting there attempting to read in silence however after a while she got confused by some complicated language. She wanted to ask Tommy for help but talking would lead to her embarrassment so instead, after minutes of inner conflict, she turned the book around and pointed at the words.

He looked up from his book to be met with Alice's wide eyes asking for help and then he focused on the two words, "tyrannical means when you use power in a cruel way and selfish is when you only think of yourself." It made Tom feel good inside knowing that he was helping her and the grateful look in her eyes warmed his heart. She was so delicate and innocent, like a rare flower that needed to be protected. "If you need any more help just ask me."

Alice smiled and nodded her head whilst Tom mirrored her expression and concluded that she, like him, must be different.

Over the next month the two orphans got into a comfortable routine, which consisted of the library as much as possible. Somedays they didn't talk at all seemingly comfortable just in the others presence and then on other days they couldn't stop talking, or at least Tom couldn't. Alice was a listener and on the chatty days it was Tom who brought up all the conversations whilst she just sat there fascinated by what he said.

Sometimes they got picked on but she didn't mind, even if Tom did. Every time her hair got pulled or books thrown to the ground Tom promised that he would get revenge however Alice always tried to stop him. She hated people getting hurt even if she didn't like them and Tom knew that avenging them would have to be a matter kept from her. Real men protect their friends and that's what he planned to do.

They both learnt to understand the others little signals and were the closest friends by the time winter break had started. All was good for now, but that wouldn't last long.

It was a Sunday and the children were making their way towards the church. Sometimes they managed to go to church and Tom found it extremely boring unlike Alice. The services were always too long and Tom couldn't understand how his friend could even consider that a God exists because anybody not stupid could tell that it was all rubbish. Today the preacher was talking about materialism and selfishness and how we value ourselves higher than God. He mentioned the story of Adam and Eve of the tempting snake and Tom quietly whispered in Alice's ear, "hiss."

She jumped slightly in her chair and tears welled up in her eyes as she faced the quietly laughing Tom. Snakes terrified her and by the fearful look he figured it out.

He looked at her in bemusement and shock, Alice was scared of snakes? Tom had always considered them rather beautiful creatures when he had seen them in books.

After the service he held her hand back to the orphanage and lead her to the library where they were alone. Her fear was forgotten, nobody mentioned it again, and they began reading their books as the cold December night went on.

Christmas Day at the orphanage was never the jolly day everyone else seemed to experience. All the children were expected to stand up inside the church and sing a few carols in hopes that some people would donate to the poor children. None wore suitable coats or the proper footwear for the winter and it was used as a successful pity trip for all of the rich greedy folk. Although Tom always wondered how none of the towns people had realised that they all come back in the same state every year. Nothing changes and he would love to know where all that money went towards, one thing was for sure, it didn't come anywhere near the orphanage.

Everyone was cold, especially Alice who recalled spending most christmases in places like France where the whether was warmer. It hit her hard and Tom loathed seeing her so deprived therefore on most days he leant her his warm garments. It lead to his suffering, but much rather him than her.

Tom couldn't wait until the service was over because when they got home he had a present for her. A diary. It was red and a more luxury item than what he could ever afford however it was in his possession. He didn't really know how it had happened, one day Alice and him were walking in town and she gazed upon the book shop and pointed to the diary in awe at it and his heart sunk knowing that he could never buy it for her. However soon later when they returned home, there it was in his bag. A good man may have given it back however Tom didn't care about morality. There were bigger priorities at stake.

Alice was also excited to get home, over the past couple of weeks she had been making Tom a bookmark for Christmas. It wasn't a lot but she was very proud of her drawing of books and the little poem that she had wrote for him.

As always they agreed to meet in the library as they got changed out of their Sunday bests and picked up their presents.

It was a sweet occasion where the two almost became shy with each other again as they passed their presents to the other. Tom was overjoyed and shocked at the fact that she had gotten him something. He had never had a real present before and his insides were nearly bursting. To top off the day, her joyful expression when she saw the diary. He criticised her slight look of accusation and persuaded her that he had acquired it be lawful means and the innocent Alice believed him, foolishly.

After the 'thank you's and hugs they sat on the floor in each others arms whilst Tom began reading aloud a book and she fell asleep in his warm arms.

December 31st was Toms birthday and he just wanted it to be over. It was a day to remind himself of the abandonment from his parents. It made him angry and it seemed like even Alice couldn't please him however she proved him wrong in the best of ways.

She came into the dining room with a unusual skip in her step and her hand behind her back. Instead of getting breakfast like she usually did Alice went straight over to Tom and handed him a book shaped present that was wrapped in newspaper. He looked at her for a while and didn't know what to do, Tom had never had a birthday gift before and he felt his heart pounding out of his chest. Whenever she wasn't around he became the moody and unlikable little boy everybody in the orphanage had grown to know however with her he was a different person. He didn't know what it was but Tom knew it was only her that could have this effect on him.

He handed her the rest of his toast suddenly not hungry and she began eating at he ripped away the newspaper. He stared at the book in confusion for a while and scowled at her whilst saying, "This is a book from the library."

She smiled and shook her head whilst grabbing his hand and pulling it towards the library. Tom had no idea what was happening but was curious. When they entered she took the book from his hands and opened it. In the middle there was a rectangle hole that had been cut out and inside was a note, 'To hide all of your things, when you don't want them to get wings.'

Tom had this ring that he held very dear to him however for school he didn't wear it in fear of it getting lost or stolen however he also didn't like keeping it at the orphanage for the same reason. He remembered complaining about it to Alice but he never thought she took so much interest. Either way he was overjoyed. None of the other children used the library and all children were allowed to take one book out at a time although nobody checked. Tom could put this book anywhere and nobody would think twice about taking it from him or looking inside. It was a very smart idea but from such a observant girl he shouldn't have been surprised.

The rest of the day was spent reading and watching other people's celebrations from the library window. Alice's eyes lit up when she witnessed the fireworks light up the sky and Tom promised to himself at that moment that somehow he would protect her from anything that had the potential to harm her, despite the consequences.

This is my first go at Harry Potter and it won't be a oneshot thing if I get enough support. I have so many ideas so vote and comment if you want me to carry it on!

There may be some mistakes throughout so do point them out if you can and I hope you enjoyed as much as I loved writing it.