-1I walked brusquely into the train station, my bag hanging off my thin frame haphazardly. I saw millions of muggles bustling about, and I groaned. By the time I'd reach the train, it would be halfway to Hogwarts.
I reflected over my years at Hogwarts as I managed to push through the thriving crowd. I was a pureblood Gryffindor; I had been made prefect once and had gotten seven Outstanding O.W.L.'s. I had been made Head Girl this year, now that I thought of it.
That seems like a rather good resume.
But that's not all. I had many peripheral friends; I would sit at the lunch table with them and laugh at all the right times. But there was really no one who could communicate with me at my level of intelligence, which bothered me a lot. The only other student who had gotten more than six O.W.L.'s was Tom Riddle, a Slytherin seventh year, and, well, let's just say we didn't get along. Perhaps I'll tell you more about it later.
I pushed through the barrier and entered the train. I saw a few people wave to me, and I waved back; I could tell they were motioning for me to sit with them, but I pretended I couldn't see them and passed them, moving on to an empty compartment down the way. I pulled out a notebook curled up in the seat happily. I enjoyed being alone. It was one of the things that made me very happy in general.
I doodled mindlessly for a bit and then looked outside; the train was beginning to move. I breathed a sigh of relief. No one had come to sit with me, and that was just the way I liked it.
I looked down at the page and read what I had written.
Atalanta Avery-- Head Girl
Then under that I had written a poem.
This nakedness is bestowed upon us all
It uncovers our goodness and the
Spoiled and rotten cores
The blush of hatred and lust creeping up upon us
Smothering embarrassment with hints of yearning
Frightens me in a way that I may not fathom
Or else be swept away by greed
I sighed and put the notebook down. Just then, I heard a knock on the door. Two knocks on the door. Then the door opened to reveal-
"Hello Avery." A hatred coursed through me.
"Hello Riddle," I spat. Tom Riddle was standing in the doorway; the person in the school whom I loathed the most. Everyone always thought him to be so dashing with his good looks and charming with his magnificent wordplay; he had everyone wrapped around his little finger. Except me, of course. The loathing (which I assumed was mutual) had begun the first year we got here, and since then it had simply grown. "What are you doing here? And where are your cronies, Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle?"
His eyes full of rage he responded, "They are seemingly to where to be found. All the other compartments are full. I was wondering if I could join you; it is pretty empty in here." He closed the door behind him before I responded and sat down across from me.
"I'm sure if you asked that fan club of yours could spare some room for 'hunky Tom Riddle,'" I scoffed.
"I don't exactly wish to sit with them," he said coldly.
"And you'd rather sit with me?"
"Honestly? Yes. Because you, unlike them, have a brain." I rolled my eyes.
"Is that a compliment, Riddle?"
"No, merely a known fact." I shook my head at him and began doodling and writing again.
"What are you writing?" he asked after ten minutes of silence.
"A poem," I responded very non-specifically.
"Could you be any more vaguer?"
"I could, but then you'd be even more confused."
"Can I read it?" A deadly silence filled the gap between us. I never let ANYONE read my notebook work. Ever.
"I'd prefer it if you'd just back off," I said icily. He looked at me in indignation.
"Back off? I'm creating conversation," he spat.
"And we all know how fabulous your repartee is, Riddle, so you can cut the crap." Riddle looked annoyed but he kept silent.
A magical ring rang through the cabin; it was a signal for the Head Boy, Head Girl, and prefects to gather in the front of the train. Riddle and I both groaned at the same time.
"Wait, you're Head Boy?" I asked unbelievingly.
"Yes. Let me guess, you're Head Girl."
"On the nose, Riddle." Then the effect of the words hit me hard.
"Wait- wait, we're going to be patrolling together the ENTIRE YEAR."
Riddle grimaced. "It does seem likely."
I moaned and left the compartment, Riddle trailing closely behind.
I entered the front compartment. In there was Professor Andromache talking to some of the younger prefects who had rushed from their compartments.
"Hello Miss Avery, Mister Riddle. Take a seat, will you?" he said in a light tone. "These are the Head Boy and Head Girl." A few people clapped politely.
"They are in charge of the prefects, who in turn are in charge of keeping students in check. Am I being clear?" he asked the younger ones, who all nodded fervently. I yawned. He gave the same speech every year.
"Now, I expect all of you to work together to keep the students of Hogwarts at bay. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the Head Boy or Girl. The first train patrol goes to Miss Prudence Hawthorne and Mister Anthony Connolly. Thank you; and one last word of caution; use your authority wisely, for when used blindly, it becomes worthless. Good day." I stood up, as did Riddle; we walked out of the compartment before any of the buggers could ask us bloody questions.
I sighed and sat back down in what was no longer my compartment, but ours.
"I'm going to go change my robes. I'll be back soon," I said after a few minutes of nothing. He nodded gruffly and I grabbed my robes and left.
I changed leisurely, I had no wish to go back to the compartment soon than necessary.
Someone bumped into me from behind as I left the changing compartment. I fell over and landed with a THWUMP on the floor, hurting you tailbone.
"Sorry," I heard a voice sneer. I scowled. I knew that sneer like the back of my hand.
"Demeter Collins," I said through gritted teeth. She smiled haughtily.
"So, I heard you're sitting with Tom," she said scathingly.
"So?" I asked, nonplussed.
"I also heard you guys are a couple." My stomach dropped.
"Who did you hear that from?" I asked.
"Does it matter?" she said with a laugh.
"No, we're not a couple," I managed to spit out after the initial shock. "As a matter of fact, I loath the guy."
"Oh good. Then you won't mind when I talk him for myself," she stated.
"Be my guest." She rolled her eyes and walked away, leaving me with a sore butt.
I went back to the compartment and saw Tom hastily put down my notebook.
"We're you reading my work?" I asked incredulously.
"No; I-I was admiring the art on the cover," he stammered, pointing to a tiger I had drawn on the cover in magically glowing ink. I looked at him, puzzled. Tom Riddle, stammer? I saw him clench his fist in his pocket.
"Are you okay?" I asked, really confused.
"Yes, I'm fine," he said, quickly regaining his Riddle swagger.
I sat, slightly confused.
The rest of the train ride went smoothly, except for the fact that a young prefect kept on barging in to ask us stupid questions, like "Do different houses have different curfews?" or "Does being a prefect mean you can go to Hogsmede when you like?"
The train stopped and I knew that we had arrived. Riddle tipped his head slightly to me as he walked out the door.
"Until we meet again," he said derisively.
"Until then, Riddle," I spat. I walked through the grounds to the Great Hall and sat down near the teacher's table. I took out my notebook and flipped through it, trying to find the page from before.
It had disappeared.