Enchanted Hearts 1: The Feast
( A/N: Taking a slight hiatus from "Snape's Secret", I am going to ask you to enter a world you've probably never considered. The date is 1947, and we are about to embark on a journey into the life and love of Tom Riddle's days at Hogwarts!! Enjoy!! )
Nicole LeClaire leaned against the cold brick wall of the train station and poked her head around the corner. As she watched, two girls in gray skirts and white short sleeved tops walked up to a wall, stepped through it and disappeared. Nicole shook her head and took a deep breath. They were the third group of students she had seen do that in the last ten minutes, and she knew that she was going to have to do it herself --and soon.
" It can't be that difficult. " Nicole muttered, lifting her heavy trunk with all the strength she could muster and slowly staggering towards the wall. " If I can just get this trunk through without making too big a scene, I should be fine. "
A sudden crash sent Nicole flying backwards as her trunk fell roughly to the ground. " Hey, watch where you're going! " an angry voice shouted.
" Sorry. " Nicole said, slowly getting up and wincing at the scrape on her elbow, " I kinda lost control of my trunk... "
" Nice excuse, clumsy. Next time, look before you try to carry your house through the portal. " the angry voice replied. Nicole looked up to see a tall and thin boy a couple years older then herself scowling at her.
" I couldn't see. " Nicole said, now rather cross herself, " It was your fault, not mine. "
" Whatever. " the boy muttered, turning to walk away and then spotting the scrape on her elbow, " Say, you're hurt! ...C'mon, I'll help you with your stuff. "
" Thanks. " Nicole said, slightly surprised at the sudden change of tone, " My name is Nicole. What's yours? "
" Tom. " the boy replied, lifting the trunk and walking through the portal. Nicole stood where she was, still terrified to go through. A minute later Tom returned, looking at her with amusement.
" What's so funny? " Nicole asked.
" Take my hand. It won't hurt you. " Tom said, grinning. Taking his hand, Nicole stepped through the portal and found herself on a platform marked 9 and 3 / 4.
" Thanks! " Nicole said, smiling.
" Come on, or we'll miss the train. I put your trunk with mine. Would you like some company while on the train? " Tom asked, as they stepped through the open door and made their way through several cars.
" Sure. That would be great. I don't really know anybody, and my parents had to go to a big conference in the states... " Nicole said, frowning slightly about the latter comment.
" Gee, that's too bad. " Tom said, sitting down on one of the seats and gesturing for Nicole to sit beside him.
" So, where are your parents? Did they have a meeting too? " Nicole asked as the train started to move.
" I... have no parents. I'm an orphan. " Tom said flatly.
" I beg your pardon! Goes to show I haven't got any right whining about mine not being able to make it. "
" Nah, its okay. " Tom said, shrugging his shoulders, " My mom died when I was a baby, and my dad threw me in the orphanage because of my magical powers. "
" How dreadful! " Nicole said in horror, " My parents were happy when they got the letter from Hogwarts. They thought it was fascinating. "
" Nice to see that somebody does. God I hate muggles! " Tom said, punching the seat beside him.
" What's a muggle? "
" Someone who can't use magic. The supposedly normal people. "
" Ohh... So my mom and dad are muggles, then? "
" BOTH?! "
" Uh... Is something wrong? What did I say? "
" Nevermind. I'd rather not know, actually. I'd like to have a friend this year, and the idiots in Slytherin are just getting too dull for words. "
" What's Slytherin? " Nicole asked curiously.
" Oh, boy... I can see we have a long way to go with you... " Tom said, laughing softly, " Slytherin is one of the houses at Hogwarts. "
" Oh. Neat. What are the other houses? "
" Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. "
" Cool. Which one am I going to be in? "
" Gee, I really couldn't tell you. That's up to the sorting hat. "
" Sorting hat? "
" I'm not going to try and explain that to you. It still boggles my mind, actually, and I'm at the top of my class. "
" Yeah? " Nicole asked, looking at him impressed, " How long have you been going to Hogwarts? "
" This will be my third year. I'm so excited! " Tom said, becoming with pride, " I'll be one step closer to becoming a perfect. "
" Cool. "
" Hey, let me see your arm. I bet I can heal it for you. "
Issabelle looked at him for a moment in terror. What did he mean, heal it? Surely there was no such thing as magic...? Her parents had only said that so she would go...? "Uh, okay... "
" Just relax, " Tom said, giving her a gentle smile and taking a clear vial of pinkish liquid out of his travel bag. He then got out of his seat and walked around to her wounded elbow, gently put the solution on it, and watched as the scrapes healed and the skin closed. " There, all better. "
" T-thank you. " Nicole said, the words stumbling out of her mouth on top of each other, " That was absolutely amazing. "
Tom smiled, " Don't worry, Nicole. You'll learn quick. You look really smart. Besides, I'll help you. "
" Really? " Nicole said, her granite eyes growing large with excitement, " Thanks! "
############
Hogwarts castle slowly grew larger and larger as a group of small brown row boats made there way across the water which lay before it. Nicole struggled to keep her mind on helping move her boat forward as she gazed an awe at the great stone building she would be calling home. Tom and she had been separated when the train stopped and this had disappointed her, but he had reassured her he would meet her once she got to the castle.
After entering the castle, Nicole and the rest of the first years were led to the main hall where the rest of the students were gathered around four large tables watching with interest. Nicole looked around the room, her curiosity growing by the second, until her eyes fell on Tom and he waved at her.
An old dusty hat was brought out and set on a three legged stool, and one of the teachers, a tall lady with long black hair who introduced herself as Ms. Verynn, started calling out students names. As each first year went up and put the hat one, it would pause for a minute, and then shout out the name of one of the four houses. Nicole waited for her turn eagerly, anxious to know which house the hat would put her in. Finally, Ms. Verynn called her name.
" Hmmm... " The hat said, after Nicole had put it on, " You're certainly an interesting mind to look at. You're really smart, so I could put you in Ravenclaw. But you're equally nice and work hard, you'd make a fine Hufflepuff. You had to go to the station all alone... that takes nerve. Gryffindor would do you justice. Oh, dear me... I can see what you want me to do. You want to be in Slytherin, because of your new friend, Tom. No, I don't think that would do at all. You'll stay much better friends with what I have in store... Gotta be GRYFFINDOR! "
The room full of students, which had seemed to go deathly silent, suddenly burst into applause. Nicole walked over to the table across from the one that Tom was sitting at and plopped down next to another first year, a girl with ivory pale skin, a ton of freckles and long jet black hair pulled into two braids. " Hi, my name's Myrtle. What's yours? "
" Nicole. Nice to meet you, Myrtle. "
Their conversation was paused for a moment when the headmaster caused food to appear and then Nicole's only concern was enjoying her share of the scrumptious lemon chicken and mashed potatoes that had appeared. Across the room, Tom watched her with a soft smile. She was going to be just fine. That was for certain.
( End Note: This one is a lot harder to write then Snape's Secret, but you'll eventually see the logic of it. I just couldn't help writing a Voldie fic and I can only bet that you know what all is coming... )
( A/N: Taking a slight hiatus from "Snape's Secret", I am going to ask you to enter a world you've probably never considered. The date is 1947, and we are about to embark on a journey into the life and love of Tom Riddle's days at Hogwarts!! Enjoy!! )
Nicole LeClaire leaned against the cold brick wall of the train station and poked her head around the corner. As she watched, two girls in gray skirts and white short sleeved tops walked up to a wall, stepped through it and disappeared. Nicole shook her head and took a deep breath. They were the third group of students she had seen do that in the last ten minutes, and she knew that she was going to have to do it herself --and soon.
" It can't be that difficult. " Nicole muttered, lifting her heavy trunk with all the strength she could muster and slowly staggering towards the wall. " If I can just get this trunk through without making too big a scene, I should be fine. "
A sudden crash sent Nicole flying backwards as her trunk fell roughly to the ground. " Hey, watch where you're going! " an angry voice shouted.
" Sorry. " Nicole said, slowly getting up and wincing at the scrape on her elbow, " I kinda lost control of my trunk... "
" Nice excuse, clumsy. Next time, look before you try to carry your house through the portal. " the angry voice replied. Nicole looked up to see a tall and thin boy a couple years older then herself scowling at her.
" I couldn't see. " Nicole said, now rather cross herself, " It was your fault, not mine. "
" Whatever. " the boy muttered, turning to walk away and then spotting the scrape on her elbow, " Say, you're hurt! ...C'mon, I'll help you with your stuff. "
" Thanks. " Nicole said, slightly surprised at the sudden change of tone, " My name is Nicole. What's yours? "
" Tom. " the boy replied, lifting the trunk and walking through the portal. Nicole stood where she was, still terrified to go through. A minute later Tom returned, looking at her with amusement.
" What's so funny? " Nicole asked.
" Take my hand. It won't hurt you. " Tom said, grinning. Taking his hand, Nicole stepped through the portal and found herself on a platform marked 9 and 3 / 4.
" Thanks! " Nicole said, smiling.
" Come on, or we'll miss the train. I put your trunk with mine. Would you like some company while on the train? " Tom asked, as they stepped through the open door and made their way through several cars.
" Sure. That would be great. I don't really know anybody, and my parents had to go to a big conference in the states... " Nicole said, frowning slightly about the latter comment.
" Gee, that's too bad. " Tom said, sitting down on one of the seats and gesturing for Nicole to sit beside him.
" So, where are your parents? Did they have a meeting too? " Nicole asked as the train started to move.
" I... have no parents. I'm an orphan. " Tom said flatly.
" I beg your pardon! Goes to show I haven't got any right whining about mine not being able to make it. "
" Nah, its okay. " Tom said, shrugging his shoulders, " My mom died when I was a baby, and my dad threw me in the orphanage because of my magical powers. "
" How dreadful! " Nicole said in horror, " My parents were happy when they got the letter from Hogwarts. They thought it was fascinating. "
" Nice to see that somebody does. God I hate muggles! " Tom said, punching the seat beside him.
" What's a muggle? "
" Someone who can't use magic. The supposedly normal people. "
" Ohh... So my mom and dad are muggles, then? "
" BOTH?! "
" Uh... Is something wrong? What did I say? "
" Nevermind. I'd rather not know, actually. I'd like to have a friend this year, and the idiots in Slytherin are just getting too dull for words. "
" What's Slytherin? " Nicole asked curiously.
" Oh, boy... I can see we have a long way to go with you... " Tom said, laughing softly, " Slytherin is one of the houses at Hogwarts. "
" Oh. Neat. What are the other houses? "
" Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. "
" Cool. Which one am I going to be in? "
" Gee, I really couldn't tell you. That's up to the sorting hat. "
" Sorting hat? "
" I'm not going to try and explain that to you. It still boggles my mind, actually, and I'm at the top of my class. "
" Yeah? " Nicole asked, looking at him impressed, " How long have you been going to Hogwarts? "
" This will be my third year. I'm so excited! " Tom said, becoming with pride, " I'll be one step closer to becoming a perfect. "
" Cool. "
" Hey, let me see your arm. I bet I can heal it for you. "
Issabelle looked at him for a moment in terror. What did he mean, heal it? Surely there was no such thing as magic...? Her parents had only said that so she would go...? "Uh, okay... "
" Just relax, " Tom said, giving her a gentle smile and taking a clear vial of pinkish liquid out of his travel bag. He then got out of his seat and walked around to her wounded elbow, gently put the solution on it, and watched as the scrapes healed and the skin closed. " There, all better. "
" T-thank you. " Nicole said, the words stumbling out of her mouth on top of each other, " That was absolutely amazing. "
Tom smiled, " Don't worry, Nicole. You'll learn quick. You look really smart. Besides, I'll help you. "
" Really? " Nicole said, her granite eyes growing large with excitement, " Thanks! "
############
Hogwarts castle slowly grew larger and larger as a group of small brown row boats made there way across the water which lay before it. Nicole struggled to keep her mind on helping move her boat forward as she gazed an awe at the great stone building she would be calling home. Tom and she had been separated when the train stopped and this had disappointed her, but he had reassured her he would meet her once she got to the castle.
After entering the castle, Nicole and the rest of the first years were led to the main hall where the rest of the students were gathered around four large tables watching with interest. Nicole looked around the room, her curiosity growing by the second, until her eyes fell on Tom and he waved at her.
An old dusty hat was brought out and set on a three legged stool, and one of the teachers, a tall lady with long black hair who introduced herself as Ms. Verynn, started calling out students names. As each first year went up and put the hat one, it would pause for a minute, and then shout out the name of one of the four houses. Nicole waited for her turn eagerly, anxious to know which house the hat would put her in. Finally, Ms. Verynn called her name.
" Hmmm... " The hat said, after Nicole had put it on, " You're certainly an interesting mind to look at. You're really smart, so I could put you in Ravenclaw. But you're equally nice and work hard, you'd make a fine Hufflepuff. You had to go to the station all alone... that takes nerve. Gryffindor would do you justice. Oh, dear me... I can see what you want me to do. You want to be in Slytherin, because of your new friend, Tom. No, I don't think that would do at all. You'll stay much better friends with what I have in store... Gotta be GRYFFINDOR! "
The room full of students, which had seemed to go deathly silent, suddenly burst into applause. Nicole walked over to the table across from the one that Tom was sitting at and plopped down next to another first year, a girl with ivory pale skin, a ton of freckles and long jet black hair pulled into two braids. " Hi, my name's Myrtle. What's yours? "
" Nicole. Nice to meet you, Myrtle. "
Their conversation was paused for a moment when the headmaster caused food to appear and then Nicole's only concern was enjoying her share of the scrumptious lemon chicken and mashed potatoes that had appeared. Across the room, Tom watched her with a soft smile. She was going to be just fine. That was for certain.
( End Note: This one is a lot harder to write then Snape's Secret, but you'll eventually see the logic of it. I just couldn't help writing a Voldie fic and I can only bet that you know what all is coming... )