Brief Introduction: I was traveling this weekend and I didn't have the computer to type on my "Hogwarts Marching Band" story so I started this. I would really like feedback on this because I've never written anything like this before. So please, write some comments for me! Now, this is a story back when Tom Riddle was in school and it is about a girl names Stella Riots who is a Slytherin in the same year as Tom. Please enjoy! (And give comments! :D )

I stared down the hallway. All the way until my eyes found the back of my crush, Tom Riddle. He was no doubt the hottest boy in school. He was definitely the most popular. I was just lucky that he was in the same house as me. That meant that I could stare at him all I wanted. And I had. Ever since the first day of first year when I saw him getting off the train. I was sure that one day, I would date him.

"Hurry up Miss Riot," Professor Dumbledore said coming out of his classroom. "Otherwise you'll be late to your next class. And I'm sure you don't want that."

"No sir," I said to the Gryffindor head. Then I followed his advice and hurried down to Professor Slughorn's classroom in the dungeons.

"Right on time Miss Riot," Slughorn greeted me as I slipped into the room right as the bell echoed a crossed the grounds.

I nodded surveying the room for an empty seat. There was only one empty seat in the room since we had such a big class. I slid into the seat before glancing at who was next to me. I was about to freak out when I did. It was the one and only Tom Riddle.

"Now class, today you will all be making a potion called the Heating Solution," Professor Slughorn told us. "Instructions are on page seventy six of your book. Proceed."

Tom immediately opened his book and started pulling out ingredients. I opened my book a bit slower and bent over to read every instruction before I began. Potions was my worst subject. It had been ever since first year. I don't know what it was but I just couldn't get it. Professor Slughorn had helped me numerous times. He'd even started me on Remedial Potions during my second term of first year. Just so I could get a second chance at mixing the potions with Slughorn's watchful eye on me. I understood the concepts of the potions. Just not how to mix them. I had gotten really lucky on my OWLs. The potion I had to mix was one Professor Slughorn had helped me just weeks before the test. With that and knowing the concepts, I was able to just barely scrape up an 'E' in the class. So here I was. In the NEWT Potions class even though Slughorn and I both knew that I probably shouldn't be here.

After I took out all my supplies, I slowly began mixing my potion. It wasn't long before Slughorn was over at my table to help me though.

"Salamander blood, Stella," he told me. "Salamander blood."

"Sorry," I muttered putting down the vial in my hand which read 'Spider Blood.' I pulled my bag up to try and find my supply of salamander blood. I was only searching for about thirty seconds when Slughorn sighed.

"There's some in the student supplies. And like I've told you before, you need to clean out that bag of yours. It's a total mess."

"I know sir."

"Good. Now get to work. Tom, help her through this will you dear boy?"

Tom nodded. "Of course sir."

Blushing, I hurried away to the supply cabinet. I didn't want Tom to help me! He might be brilliant in Potions but that meant he could judge me for being so horrible at it. Which would then lead him to thinking poorly of me. And if he thought poorly of me, he would never date me. And then, all my fantasies would be ruined.

Hoping my ace wasn't too red, I headed back to my table. I added some of the salamander blood successfully and then turned to look back at my book.

"You know Stella," Tom started (I had to hide a grin when he said my name!). "This potion really isn't that hard. At least not compared to some of the stuff we've done."

"I know," I said. "But I manage to make everything difficult in here."

"That's true," Tome agreed. "I've been watching you struggle for over five years now. I don't know how you managed to get into the NEWT class."

"It's because I understand the concepts," I explained. "I think I got every question on the writing portion correct. It's just mixing them that I get all mixed up on."

"Everyone has their own weakness," Tom told me. "Yours just happen to be Potions. And you're supposed to be stirring clockwise," he pointed out. "Not counterclockwise."

"Oops," I said quickly switching directions. I hated instructions that involved clocks. I could never remember how a real clock worked.

We were quiet for a few moments while I stirred and Tom added a few more ingredients to his own potion.

"How's it going Stella?" Slughorn asked making his way over to check on me.

"Not too bad I suppose. My cauldron hasn't blown up yet or anything."

"Good. Good." Slughorn said smiling at me. "Tom? Do you think she's doing fine?"

Tome nodded. "Yes sir. Only a small mistake so far. Which I'd say is pretty good."

I smiled at the compliment. At least my face wasn't turning red now.

"You're still coming in tonight though. Right Stella?" Slughorn asked. "If I'm correct, you still have to finish up some potion from last week."

I sighed. Even though I'd been taking Remedial Potions for about six years now, they still seemed to last forever. I knew I needed the extra time but it was still frustrating. "Yes sir," I finally said. "Seven 'o'clock sharp."

"Good girl. And make sure you find your salamander blood."

"Okay. I'll look for it."

"That's my girl," Slughorn said. Then he raised his voice for the rest of the class. "You have five minutes left in the class. Fill a goblet full of your potion and leave it on my desk. If you have done that, you are free to leave when the bell rings.

"Five minutes?" I gasped as he walked away. "How am I supposed to finish this in five minutes?"

"Well," Tom said. "The best thing is to not freak out. The second thing is to look at what you have left to do. Only three ingredients left that you need to add. Then stir it for a minute. If you measure out the bits of snake skin, I'll get your other two ingredients ready. Alright?"

Shocked that he could think of that as simple, I nodded. In a daze, I measured out the snake skin. I almost measured out too much but Tom was watching me closely enough that he caught me before I got it poured out. Luckily for me, I got the potion done and on Professor Slughorn's desk before the five minutes were up. "Thanks," I muttered to Tom as we were about to leave the room.

"Anytime," Tom said with a smile.

I expected him to catch up with his friends after we left the Potions classroom. He didn't though. Tom fell into step next to me. Needless to say, I was overjoyed. It only took until our sixth year but my crush was finally noticing me!

"You're on the Quidditch team aren't you?" Tom asked me.

"Yeah. I'm a Chaser."

"That's cool. You're really good at it."

"Thanks. It's a lot of fun."

"I'm sure it is. Do you do any other clubs or anything besides Quidditch then?"

"Nope. Between Quidditch and Remedial Potions, I normally don't have time left to spare."

"You do Remedial Potions?" Tom asked.

I wanted to bury my face in my hands. How could I have forgotten that Tom didn't know that I took Remedial Potions with Slughorn? He only knew that I was lousy at the class. Until now at least. "Yes," I finally said softly.

"Oh," Tom said. He sounded somewhat unsure of what to say next. After a few seconds, finally he said, "I can help you during class if you'd like."

"Thanks for the offer but I don't think it will do much. I've been having the extra Potions lessons since my first year. And since I'm still taking them, it's obvious that I'm just plain lousy at the subject." I told him even though I knew that it would be great to have the extra attention from Tom.

"Then why are you taking the NEWT level class? Why didn't you just drop the class after you finished your OWL?"

"I don't know. I think I thought that since I passed my OWL I would be able to do okay in the NEWT class. Now I can tell that I really shouldn't trust myself when I think stuff like that. But it's too late now. I'll just have to suffer through Potions for another year and a half." I told him even though it wasn't all true. The real reason I'd taken the class was because I'd listened in on what subjects Tom was taking. It was easy since 'Riddle' came right before 'Riot.' When I heard him say he was taking Potions, against my better judgment, I'd signed up for the class as well.

"Not even a year and a half now," Tom pointed out. "We only have about three more months left of school."

"I guess that's true. And then it'll be our seventh year. And then we'll be done with school."

"An exciting though," Tom said, "To be out of this place and into the real world."

I nodded in agreement. It would be nice to get beyond the walls of the castle. I still had no clue what I wanted to do though. As long as I got to travel though I would be fine. Especially if I got to travel to France like I'd wanted to since I was seven.

By now, we'd reached the Great Hall and were sitting down at the Slytherin table. Tom had chosen two seats apart from everyone else. That surprised me a little but I wasn't going to complain about it or anything.

"Stella?" Tom started. "I have a question for you."

"A question?" I repeated.

Tom nodded. "Yes. Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

A smile broke out a crossed my face. Tom took that for a yes and pulled me into his arms for a hug. Let's just say that it was the best moment of my life up until then.