Summary: PG-13 for swearing. If you're like me, you ask "Why?" to an awful lot of things. This story just happens to answer the question, "Why is Voldemort the way he is?" Won't be answered in one chapter, but I'm going through his life, from first year on up to that Halloween at Godric's Hollow.

(A/N: Hi, all! It's me, Funness, here with another story!  I know, I know, it's short, but hey, it's just an idea still. I'm trying on working on a more complicated plot but…it'll come to me sooner or later…^_^. If you like it, tell me if I should continue it. I thought it would be pretty interesting, but I want to hear what you have to say.)


'To be away from that bloody school,' thought a young eleven year old as he boarded the Hogwarts Express. He sighed as he looked back at the matron from the orphanage. Oh, to be away from them all. The boy felt a joyous freedom as the train pulled away from the station. 'I'm free.'

The boy opened his window and all but stuck his face out it. He felt the cool wind blow against his face. He didn't even notice he was shedding tears. Thoughts were lost to him as he just focused on the pinpricks of cold beating on his face. Footsteps were not heard by him as someone entered the compartment.

"Are you alright?" a voice asked.

The boy brought his head back inside and closed his window to look at the person who'd asked. "Yes," he said shortly. Standing in front of him was a girl with bright blonde hair and large steel gray eyes.

"I'm Aine Malfoy," the girl introduced. She smiled at him as she sat down.

"Tom Riddle." 'Why is this girl talking to me?' he wondered.

"Are you a first year?" she asked.

Tom just nodded.

"That's nice. Where are you from?"

"Why must you ask me all these things?" Tom shot.

"I'm just trying to be friendly. If you'd rather me not talk, I'll just sit here in companionable silence with you," she offered.

Startled by her sociability, Tom said nothing. He wasn't used to people being nice to him for no reason. Usually they were nice to him because they wanted him to do something.

The other orphans knew there was something strange about Tom. He could make things happen. Once, a snake followed him back to the orphanage. He wanted to keep it so badly he kept it in his dresser. When the matron came to do laundry, Tom was frightened she'd find the snake. But she didn't. Upon closer inspection, Tom noticed that the snake he'd dubbed 'Hister,' was there. Hister had never moved. Tom asked one of his dorm mates to see if they could find Hister. They couldn't see the snake at all. Tom came to the conclusion that Hister was invisible to all but him.

Sadly, that snake had died within the month. Since then, Tom had been known as a mute to his fellow orphans. He never talked, even when spoken to by a teacher. It became a hell for him. Now he felt he could speak.

"What are you thinking about?" Aine inquired.

"My life."

"Do you always answer with the least amount of words possible?"

"Yes."

Tom wished this girl would leave him alone. He sank back into his own thoughts as the compartment door opened again.

"Aine! Get your ass over here!" a boy called. He looked about sixteen. He had the same hair and eye color as Aine.

"No, Fenrir. I don't have to follow you like a dog. Mum said so," Aine retorted. The boy, Fenrir, backhanded Aine and she fell to the ground.

Tom knew something had to be done. His wand was out in a split second. "Incarcium," he muttered. Fenrir was bound before he could blink.

"What in hell do you think you're doing, you little prat? I'm a prefect and if you don't listen to me I will make your stay at Hogwarts a nightmare—"

"Well, well, Malfoy. Got yourself into something else, have you?" a girl asked. She grabbed Fenrir's ropes and looked at Tom.

"You're in your first year, correct?" she asked.

Tom nodded.

"Agatha Jacquelyn May Victoria Dumbledore. I'm a distant cousin of the transfiguration teacher, and a Ravenclaw prefect. Your name is?"

"Tom Marvolo Riddle."

"Only one middle name? You poor deprived child. Did you do this to Malfoy?"

"Yes."

Agatha shot him a curious glance. She turned around and pulled Fenrir out of the compartment.

"Thanks," Aine mumbled with a blush on her cheeks.

"Don't mention it. Literally," Tom added with a smile.

Aine laughed a little. She looked at Tom and said, "I think we've just become friends."

"Me, too," Tom replied.

They chatted and talked all the way to Hogwarts.