A perfect 500 fic. Yay! Written for Anime Week over at The Golden Snitch HP forum. Using the prompt Death Note: Write about Tom Riddle's diary.

One of my takes how Riddle may had gotten his diary...


Tom Riddle has no need for a diary.

It's given to him by a blushing Hufflepuff sixth-year student. Two years older than him and yet, she is still tripping over her words and handing out a gift to a fourth-year. How Hufflepuffs survive in the world after Hogwarts ends for them, he will never know.

He thanks her graciously and politely and she beams at him and slyly offers to help fill in the pages with interesting topics. Topics in which he has no interest in and he tells her as such.

"A lady shouldn't entertain such thoughts." Tom smiles beignly at her.

A Gryffindor would've slapped him, Slytherin would've huffed, and Ravenclaw would've frowned. This was a Hufflepuff and her face slowly turns bright, bright red and she hurries away without excusing herself.

Hufflepuffs were amusing to tease. Tom flips the book over in his hand. Now, he should get rid of this useless gift.

But, he runs his hand down the front, scowling darkly. It's one of the more expensive journals from Hogsmeade, he can tell that much. One of the ones that he wouldn't be able to afford, to his aggravation.

He wants to throw it away.

The smaller, slightly childish part of him wants to keep it.

It's been a while since he has indulge that other side of him, so he keeps it. Stuffs in his torn schoolbag to look at and decide what do with it later.

...

It's later that night when he brings it out of his schoolbag and stares at it. Does he write in it? Does he throw it away?

Abraxas is lying on his bed, not far away from Riddle's desk, and speaks up after silence has fallen upon them both for more than ten minutes. "You should get it engraved or something."

Tom looks at him. Nobody at the orphanage ever has their name engraved on their belongings.

Abraxas takes his look as a sign to continue, "That way people know it's yours. I mean, having a journal is like having a piece of your soul written on a piece of paper. I would suggest some hexs or jinxs to keep people away from it, though. "

Tom stiffens, but doesn't say anything.

Interesting idea...

He hands the journal to Abraxas who accepts it with a raised eyebrow. "Have it engraved for me." It's both a request and a command.

Abraxas frowns, "You're actually going to use it?"

Tom smiles and it's a bit brighter than normal, "For an...experiment, yes. It'll serve it purpose."

Abraxas doesn't asks questions.

This was going be an excellent start to his future. To think that a Hufflepuff girl started him on his path to greatness and immortality. What was her name? Eliz- Elisabeth...Bones, was it? Tom shook his head. It didn't really matter.

It was highly unlikely they would ever meet again.