The clicking of the train tracks was just background noise to the excited chatter of the students, readying themselves to arrive at Hogwarts. All bustling around, some trying to find or make friends, others studying and trying new spells that they couldn't practice over the summer. Though all agreed it was an unorganized mess, they didn't really care—they were going to Hogwarts the best magic school in the country.

Yet there was one compartment only a first year boy was in. He had dark brown hair and pale skin and an aura that just absorbed light. Everyone who passed it was deadly quiet. There was something off about him; they just couldn't put their finger on it. Because of this he was prepared for his only friend to be the garden snake he had found in the orphan's yard.

"Well Polly I guess it's just me and… Polly?" He jumped up his snake was gone! "Polly‽" He looked all over his compartment, in his luggage, under the seats. She was gone! A second before he started to scour the train, a girl with thick, dull, messy, orange hair in a messy ponytail, and her bangs were unkempt, around his age opened the door.

"Hello, do you know who's snake this is?" The boy's eyes lit up.

"Yes! That's Polly. That's my snake." He was relieved.

"Whelp here you go," she handed him the lime green snake. The boy started petting the reptile's head and looked up at the girl looking up at the ceiling like in deep thought. There was a good minute of just silence the girl was rocking on her heels.

"Why are you still here?"

"Humm? Oh, I thought you could use some company."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it seems like people are avoiding you."

"So why aren't you?"

"And why on Earth would I do that?"

"I'm mean and have a pet snake." He said with slight annoyance in his voice.

"I once knew a girl who had a pet scorpion. She was one of the nicest persons I had ever met." The girl said. The boy smiled slightly at this. The girl beamed at her accomplishment, plopping herself down on the seat.

"What are you doing?" the dark haired boy asked.

"We're friends now." The boy seemed confused

"No, we're not."

"Your right!" She exclaimed, jumping up. "I'm Hoover," sticking out her hand, "Luxman Hoover."

"Umm… I'm Tom Riddle." The boy said, shaking her hand, not knowing what to do.

"Well it's a pleasure, Riddle." Luxman said, sitting back down.