AUTHORS NOTE: I feel as though i have a compulsive order where i cannot stop starting stories involving Tom Riddle. It's pretty much a curse. I have no idea how long it will span for, if and when i'll finish or even the general plot line. But here's to impromptu writing! Please enjoy and review :)

Reverse this Curse

A Tom Riddle Jr and Original Character story.

"I've got one last chance to reverse this curse,

You stole my heart but i had it first.

And now i see that you've got something to prove,

and nothing to lose so let me tell you the truth"

Reverse this Curse by Escape the Fate

CHAPTER 1

It started on the very first day of Hogwarts, just after they were sorted into Slytherin. Tom nervously approached the table, meeting stony glares as he advanced. Looking back a few weeks later, he understood their hostility. He was a half blood among his pureblooded brethren, a heinous crime and insult to Salazar Slytherin himself. But among the accusing glowers, there was one free of judgement. Connected to those politely curious brown eyes was a lightly tanned rounded face framed with shoulder length black hair. The girl waved him over as one would with an old friend, her lips curving into a childish grin. Seeing no other alternative, Tom veered towards her, sitting in the area she had freed up. Pulling out a quill from her pocket, she grabbed a napkin and began to write.

"Hello, my name is Sarah Demeter" she wrote, the writing oddly sophisticated for an eleven year old child.

She held the quill out to him in invitation, nodding towards the napkin. Grasping the quill in his hand, Tom wrote neatly below her words.

"Nice to meet you Sarah. My name is Tom Riddle"

Sarah peered at the napkin, smiling at him before plucking the quill from his fingertips "Welcome to Slytherin Tom. You'll love it at Hogwarts!"

For the first time in a long time, Tom felt a heartfelt smile cross his face. He couldn't help but doubt that he would ever feel welcome in the House of Snakes, but perhaps with that sunny smile by his side, he might just make it through.

Exactly seven years had passed since that day of their sorting, and so much had happened yet not much had changed. Tom was watching with disinterest as the new batch of first years was sorted into houses, clapping politely when the hat called 'Slytherin!'Sarah was busy writing on a napkin, smiling to herself a little as she captioned a stick figured drawing. Nudging Tom, she cocked her head towards her hasty illustration.

Tom leaned over slightly, watching the charmed picture of a stick figure of a first year boy. The sorting hat was put on his head then enveloped him whole, the sorting hat grinning wickedly. Below, it read "Were we such tiny little runts when we were that age?"

Tom let a flicker of a grin cross his face, leaning in close to whisper in her ear "Not all of us, only you"

She kicked him painfully in the leg under the table before turning away and giving him the cold shoulder. From the corner of his eye, Tom saw her smile a bit to herself though, showing him that she wasn't actually angry at him.

Throughout the years together, Tom never ceased to marvel at how well she understood him despite the obvious chink in their communication. She had lost her ability to speak when she was a child, the unfortunate aftermath of toying with cursed objects in her grandfather's basement. She had learned to write all her thoughts down on paper instead of learning muggle art of sign language. While she was still able to laugh and make small noises of reprimand and amusement, being mute made her a social outcast in her house despite her pure blooded heritage. On the rare occasion, she wasn't with Tom, she sat and ate with a small group of Gryffindors – much to Tom's disapproval.

Tom on the other hand, did develop acquaintances at Hogwarts within Slytherin despite his early doubts. His peers had soon realised that he was not one to be trifled with, and as his confidence and charm grew throughout the years, he had almost everyone under his spell. They all adored the Slytherin Prefect and now Head Boy – including the other houses too. To the average student and Professor, Tom Riddle was a courteous, intelligent and rather handsome boy. There were few who noticed anything beyond his pleasant exterior, and even fewer who knew the extent of just how unpleasant he was.

Sure, his followers were prone to Tom's foul moods and sporadic behaviour but he had a feeling even they did not know the depths he would go to in order to achieve his ambitions. Tom's motives went beyond the simplistic pure blooded mania he had claimed. He wanted complete power – everyone and everything would be subservient to his greatness. In order to gain followers, he utilised the one ideal that would unite his house to his cause – their pride and lineage.

But Sarah understood him, and while Tom had conveniently forgotten to tell her of his deeds and plans, he had an inkling that she knew of his craving for power. She probably thought that he would want to be the Minister of Magic one day, using his power and intelligence to benefit the wizarding society. When she asked him about his plans after school, he just gave her a nonchalant shrug, changing the topic expertly to something else where he wouldn't have to blatantly lie to her. She knew how to read him even when his words said something else entirely. She forgave him when his mood swings ran rampant. Tom wondered how a person with such a kind heart could be sorted into Slytherin.

Tom was not a different person with Sarah, but a more refined and happier version. He allowed himself to smile and banter, doing so because he wanted to rather than out of necessity. She brought out the limited good in him, and while his fondness of her was a weakness for his future plans, he was willing to be weak if it meant that she would stay by his side.

At that moment, his thoughts were interrupted by the clattering of plates, bowls and goblets – the feast had started. Sarah began to pile a piece of sticky date pudding onto her plate, dousing it with caramel sauce. At every meal, Sarah always began with dessert – a quirk which Tom thought was oddly endearing. He himself never had an appreciation for overly sweet things, but on occasions such as her birthday, Tom would buy her a cake from Hogsmeade which they would eat together by the Black Lake.

"Would you like any more sauce on that Demeter?" asked Abraxas Malfoy, his tone sarcastic but not unpleasant.

Sarah shook her head, grinning at Malfoy before she eagerly dug into her dessert. Abraxas shook his head good naturedly at the girl, returning to his conversation with Orion. Tom knew that his followers or acquaintances did not particularly like Sarah, but they were pleasant to her because of Tom. For now, it was enough – as long as they maintained civility, Tom had no reason to change the dynamics.

The rest of the opening feast was spent in relative silence, Sarah being too busy concentrating on the food to pick up her quill and start a conversation with Tom. Tom didn't mind, the silence between them was comfortable rather than awkward – a consequence of their 6 year long friendship. Soon enough, Tom had to bid her goodbye for the night. As Head Boy, it was required of Tom to help the Prefects in assisting the first years to their common rooms and dormitories.

"I'll see you in the morning" said Tom, gracefully rising from his seat. She gave him a quick mock salute in goodbye and turned her attention back to her food, tuning in on Orion's and Abraxas' conversation about the newest broomstick on the market. Tom left the group, ushering the first year Slytherins out of the Great Hall and into their new homes.

ANOTHER A/N BECAUSE I'M INCREDIBLY LONG WINDED:

Just thought i'll tell you guys that i'm aware that my dates for events are completely wrong. I wrote things before i researched (foolish i know) and for some other things, it would serve my story a bit better if it were out of sequence. Apologies all around!

Lots of butterbeer, sugar quills and cute barn owls (which is practically love),

DecoyDream x