Chapter One

New Arrival

Tom Riddle glanced up and down the Slytherin table, his eyes scanning the faces of his small gang, made up of Avery, Nott, Mulciber, Rosier and Lestrange. He didn't care to remember their first names. They were all laughing among themselves, talking quietly about what hell they could raise this year.

Tom turned around and found himself looking at the double doors leading into the Great Hall. Him and his friends were now in their fifth year of Hogwarts, and well used to the Opening Ceremony. The rest of Tom Riddle's gang all tried to scout out pretty young girls to prey on, but so far had had no luck. Tom knew that he wasn't any better than them, but he still found it sickening to watch their eyes roaming over the nervous bodies of the young girls.

Boys will be boys, he supposed.

As if on cue, the double doors opened, rumbling, and the Great Hall fell quietly. Professor Dumbledore flowed down the aisle, leading the thick black mob of new first years behind him. They were like an army, packed together perfectly, faces almost completely hidden by their hats, and their necks, arms and body covered by their liquid-like cloaks.

"I can't see anything," Rosier hissed, "look at them! It's like trying to find a nun attractive!"

Tom rolled his eyes and focused once more on the Sorting. He watched as several young boys got sorted into Hufflepuff, some into Gryffindor, and a few girls into Ravenclaw. He watched almost carelessly as several new Slytherins joined the table, until one of them caught his eye.

A young girl, wearing shabby robes that looked around three sizes too big for her, with long black ratty hair. She walked to the Slytherin table with her head down, ashamed. He glanced around, only to find most people paying attention to the next person being sorted. The girl finally reached the table, searching for a seat desperately. Tom knew the only available seat was next to him, and turned to watch the Sorting finish up, not wanting to intimidate her.

He felt her softly sit down beside him, and resisted the urge to turn around. He was interested in her – they were very similar. He remembered when he first came to Hogwarts, and he had been wearing shabby second-hand robes like hers, and although he wasn't as bedraggled as her, he was the poor kid. But fortunately, his charisma, brains, and good looks earned him plenty of eager followers. Tom wasn't sure this young girl was quite the same.

Professor Dippet finally gave them their short welcome to the new year, warning them all of the Forbidden Forest and the no duelling in the halls rule, as well as some other small notices concerning Quidditch and uniform policy.

The food appeared, and Tom Riddle turned around. He looked at the young girl out of the corner of his eyes, and saw her bright green eyes light up in wonder. He pulled his gaze away from her and glanced at his gang, who were already shovelling food down their throats, barely paying attention to each other, the girl, or him. Tom carefully put food onto his own plate, watching the girl. When he saw that she was about to reach for the potatoes, he too reached for them, making his hand brush hers.

Her eyes shot to his, and Tom found himself mesmerized. He'd seen her green eyes from the side, but when she locked her gaze with his, he realised just how beautiful they really were.

"Um... I'm sorry," she said quietly, and tried to give him the serving spoon.

"No, it's okay," Tom found himself replying, "you go first."

"Are you sure?" she replied.

"Yeah," Tom answered, "I'm sure you aren't going to eat the whole load of them."

The girl blushed.

"So what's your name?" Tom asked, taking some potatoes for himself once she was done, then several cuts of meat.

"Nagini Anguis," she replied, "what's yours?"

"Tom Riddle," he told her, "your name is beautiful." He glanced at her plate, and saw she had just begun eating but it was already half empty. "Why haven't you got much food?"

Nagini looked away, hiding behind her tangly black hair, "I'm not used to this much food. I'll feel bad if I take a full plate."

"Look at how much some of us have," Tom said, gesturing to Mulciber's plate, which was like a mountain of food. "Come on, have some more."

Tom started piling enormous portions onto her plate, and she just stared wide-eyed as a collection of vegetables, meats, sauces and other types of food, such as Yorkshire puddings and quishes. Tom eventually stopped when her amount of food was rivalling his.

"You can't expect me to eat all of that!" she exclaimed. It was the loudest Tom had ever heard her.

"Unfortunately for you, I do," Tom replied, starting on his own meal.

They talked a little throughout the meal, but nothing much. Nagini was very shy, and Tom wasn't going to push her. She constantly reminded him of his first year, when he had been new, and a little uncertain of his new surroundings.

Once their dinner was over, and he had forced as many puddings into Nagini as possible, it was his job as Prefect to lead all the new Slytherins back to the Slytherin commonroom. He waved to his friends, and led all the first years along. Nagini stayed close, but didn't bond with the other kids, who were all talking and forming their groups already.

The minute he reached the commonroom he was pulled aside by Nott, Avery, and the others, who desperately questioned him on the young girl, asking if he'd managed to get anything remotely sexual out of her. He responded by smacking them all in the back of the head and going to bed immediately.