Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Please review not flame. Tell me what you think. Also you can email me at if you have any ideas or suggestions as I don't have the whole story planned out, just a sketchy idea. Also I'm gonna mostly let the readers decide on this one: Should I have Dumbledore make Tom tell Hagrid he's sorry. Please review or email.

"Blah" Talking.

'Blah' thinking.

Tom shifted his bag on his shoulder as he walked down the hall passing other students. He let out a mental groan at thought of the detention he had tonight with Professor Dumbledore. The old man had never seemed to like or trust him, and that feeling had only intensified after last year with the whole Heir of Slytherin incident that went on.

Tom knew that the old man suspected him of opening the chamber and framing the oaf Hagrid. But it was reassuring to know that Dumbledore couldn't prove anything.

And it was just his luck that transfiguration was his last class before he had dinner. Picking up his pace he swung around the corner and darted down the hall toward the classroom just as the bell rang signaling the start of class. 'Oh crap, he'll probably take off point for tardiness and just because he hates me.' Tom thought miserably.

Tom crept into the room as quietly as possibly. Horrified to see the teacher standing at the front of the room even if his back was to them. "Ten points from Slytherin for tardiness Mr. Riddle." Dumbledore's deep voice rang through the classroom. "Now take your seat." He commanded, turning to regard Tom sternly through his spectacles.

"Yes, sir." Tom said, ducking his head and shuffling to his seat in the back row. He had sunk deep into depression over the summer and didn't feel the will to fight back with anyone or anything. 'This just has to happen to me the first week of the school year doesn't it. Not like anyone cares.' Tom took his book out of his bag and waited with everyone else for instructions.

Dumbledore had turned back to the board behind him and quickly finished writing the directions for today's lesson on it. "We are going to be practicing turning mice into forks." He turned and picked up a cage full of mice. Tom glanced to his left when he heard the girl sitting there squeak and push her chair back slightly. Tom rolled his eyes and watched the professor walk up and down aisles hand out mice.

Finally Dumbledore reached his table and put a mouse on it, hardly even glancing at Tom himself before moving on to the last students without a mouse. "Now, does everyone have a mouse? Raise your hand if you don't." He called. Nobody raised their hands. " Excellent." Dumbledore said smiling. "Everyone follow the directions on the board and raise your hand after you do, I'll come around and check."

Everyone got to work and it got very quiet, Tom watched Dumbledore calmly walk to his desk and sit down shuffling through papers. He glanced down at the squirming mouse held firmly in his hand. It was Gray with a white belly, pink paws and black beady eyes which bulged in terror.

He pulled his wand and pointed it at the small animal, which in another instant became a fork. Tom was pleased to see that it wasn't like some other peoples mice, and didn't retain a tail or gray.

He sat there for a few minutes and just watched other students subtly, though Professor Dumbledore would probably take some points away for not following instructions and raising his hand when he was done. But he just couldn't find it in himself to care really.

Finally after deciding he might as well just raise his hand before he got into anymore trouble than he already was he lazily lifted his right hand into the air. Only a few other people had their hands up, others were either still trying to turn their mice, or hand already been checked by Dumbledore and were reading or working on homework.

A couple of girls in the far right corner had huddled together and were gossiping in low voices. 'Gryffindors.' Tom thought when he saw the crests on the robes. He might be depressed but he still had no love for the House of the Lions or anyone in it.

'Well, maybe except for Dumbledore just a little.' Tom had no intention of say so out loud but he did at least respect and look up to the old teacher. Even though he never showed it.

It would do no good for him to be seen as a Gryffindor loving weakling, which was just what the other Slytherins would see in him if they found out. It's definitely easier to be a loner if your school 'family' isn't hunting you at all hours of the day and sharing a room with you at night.

Dumbledore walked over to his table again and looked down at the fork. " Very good Mr. Riddle, five points to Slytherin." Was all he said before turning and walking away again.

Tom sighed and privately wondered why the way Dumbledore had been acting toward him this year so far stung and slightly hurt his feeling. 'Although to be honest I'm don't mind him not making eye contact that much as it means he's not reading my mind, besides the old man probably thinks that I even have feeling.'

Tom really didn't know why but that thought made him want to cry. 'Because it only helps to prove that no one cares or likes you. Who could ever love a useless murderer like you anyway?' A voice in the back of his mind taunted him.

'Don't you dare cry, especially in front of everyone! Crying is a sign of weakness, or had you forgotten that. Have you learned nothing during your stay at that abusive orphanage?' Tom scolded himself. 'I probably would sound like a lunatic if anyone heard this conversation I seem to be having with myself even if it is rather one-sided.' Tom almost chuckled.

But he didn't. He never laughed or smiled any more. Not since the death last year and Hagrid's expulsion. For reason's Tom didn't know he seemed to be developing a conscience, or finding it anyway. Last year and this summer was the first time any of his crimes had ever bothered him.

Just then the bell rang and everyone started throwing their stuff into their bags. "I recommend that none you forget to turn in you papers on today's assignment if you don't want a failing grade. Class dismissed." Dumbledore said to the class. Everyone filed out. 'And lucky me, I get to come back after dinner which is in an hour.' Tom glanced back once at his professo who was focased on grading the papers on his desk before turning and walking out.