AN: I combined Years One and Two into one story for this series because they are going to be a bit short and uneventful, with a few chapters in both Tom and Penny's point of views, maybe one or two in Henry's. Reviews would be very, very much appreciated! Enjoy.
"Last call for the Hogwarts Express!" Penelope Black heard as she stumbled through the barrier at Platform 9 3/4. Flipping her dark hair out of her ice blue eyes, she looked around and saw everyone boarding the train. She turned to say goodbye to her family, but they were cooing over her brother, who was a third year. Don't mind me, she thought bitterly. I'm just your youngest and only daughter. Sighing, she climbed onto the train, just barely holding onto her owl's cage and her trunk. She yelled as she slipped on the second step and her things went everywhere.
"Oh my," a quiet voice said, and Penny raised her head to look at a boy about her age. He had messy black hair and dark eyes that looked down at her with interest. "Do you need help?" Penny nodded gratefully. The boy moved his gaze over to her trunk and jerked his head upwards, moving it into the cart by the stairs. Totally oblivious to Penny's gaping mouth, he held out his hand to help her up the rest of the steps.
"Thank you," she said breathlessly, smiling at him and holding out her hand. "I'm Penny. Penny Black." The boy managed a small, uneven smile. Penny couldn't help but notice that there was a certain element of surprise as he shook her hand.
"I'm Tom Riddle," he said slowly, as if he wasn't exactly sure whether he should tell her this or not. Penny sat down on one of the seats, looking around the empty carts. There was no one except for her and Tom in here. She could feel Tom staring at her and moved her eyes to face him again. This boy was odd, there was no doubt of that. But then again, she wasn't that normal either. At least, she wasn't in her family. She didn't hate Muggles, or Muggle-borns, and she wasn't a snob and she most definitely didn't want to be in Slytherin like her brother and her parents…and pretty much every single Black before her. So maybe she should make friends with this Tom. She smiled at him again, curious.
"How'd you move my trunk like that? You're only a first year too, right?" Tom shrugged.
"Yeah, but I've always been able to do that." He looked as though he shouldn't have told her this. Maybe he was afraid she would run away screaming. Penny was in awe.
"Without a wand?"
"Yes," Tom nodded, patting his hair to smooth it down. "I've been doing that ever since I can remember. Why? Is that wrong?" He looked worried. Penny shook her head quickly.
"No, it's extraordinary!" At this, Tom beamed at her. They spent the rest of the train ride with Penny asking questions about Tom, and Tom answering. She was so curious about him, mainly because she'd never met someone like him, someone so powerful at such a young age. An hour later, they were startled as a prefect came into their cart.
"You might want to hurry up and put on your robes, we're in sight of the castle," he said, then walked away down the hall. Tom and Penny looked at each other excitedly and quickly scooted near the window, both of them staring in awe at Hogwarts.
"It's so beautiful, isn't it Tom?" Penny sighed, lowering her chin on her hand. She'd been dreaming about this ever since her brother left for Hogwarts himself. Tom didn't answer right away, and Penny looked around to see him staring at the castle with a hunger in his eyes. "Tom?" The way he was looking at it worried her, and the flash of anger and frustration on his face as she interrupted his thoughts scared her as well. But his face smoothed out in less than a millisecond and he smiled warmly at her.
"Yes, it is. I think we're finally home, Penny." He said, and Penny knew that he meant it.