"I'll be right there girls, I just want to grab a few things before dinner," said a beautiful young woman in her sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Alright, we'll save you a seat, but don't take too long, you don't want to keep your public waiting," answered the girl's best friend, a fourth year Ravenclaw whom she had known her whole life.

"Sounds like a plan," said the Gryffindor as she made her way to the common room.

"Immortales Uirtutem," she said and gained access to the cozy Gryffindor common room.

The girl went up to the girl's tower to her bedroom and rummaged around in her trunk in search of her books and quill. She had an unusual amount of homework for the evening from Professor Dumbledore. She was always very fond of the professor and transfiguration was her favorite subject, but like any teenage girl, she felt she had better things to do than sit in the library and write ten inches on turning a beetle into a button.

Once she had retrieved all of her books and her favorite quill, she exited the portrait hole and headed for the great hall for dinner. However, on the way there, she found her path blocked by a Slytherin with the most beautiful brown eyes she'd ever seen, a fifth year boy all of the girls swooned over.

She cleared her throat in the hopes the boy would get the hint and let her pass him.

"Can I help you?" He asked. She couldn't help but detect the slightest bit of what seemed to be impatience mixed with disbelief, as if no other girl had ever needed him to get out of her way.

"As a matter of fact you can. I would love nothing more than to be able to go to dinner without having to deal with another Slytherin who thinks that they can do whatever they want. Now get out of my way before I'm forced to move you myself." She remarked as she walked by him, bumping his shoulder roughly in the process.

The boy was intrigued, he couldn't deny it. There was something about this girl, different than all of the other girls who only wanted to get on his good side in the hopes of dating him. Those girls bored him. This girl was different, and he wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to make a good first impression. So what if she was a Gryffindor? He liked her spunk, simple as that.

"Hey wait, come back, I'm uh, sorry. It's been a long day; I didn't mean to be rude." He stretched his hand out to her. "My name is Tom, Tom Riddle."

Reluctantly, she shook it.

"Minerva McGonagall. I would say it's nice to meet you, but to be honest I'm not sure it has been; now if you'll excuse me Tom, I must be going." And with that, she pivoted and went into the great hall.

He liked her. That was it, he didn't know why, but that was how it was. Minerva. He'd have to remember that one, but no one could know. If anyone found out he was even slightly interested in a Gryffindor, he'd never hear the end of it.

Minerva entered the Great Hall and took a seat next to Rubeus Hagrid, a third year Gryffindor, and across from Ruth McCarthy, the fourth year Ravenclaw. They were her best friends in Hogwarts, and quite possibly the world. Although Rubeus had the annoying habit of always wanting to show her the creatures he had found in or around the Forbidden Forest. The forest was forbidden to students, but being half giant, Rubeus always said that if there came a day he came across a creature he couldn't either befriend or scare off, he would stop going into the forest. Minerva decided it was only fair.

Ruth also had an annoying habit, but thankfully it had nothing to do with the Forbidden Forest. Ruth had quite another problem. She was very much interested in meeting people of the opposite sex. In other words, she was what Minerva liked to call "boy crazy". Not that it was anything new. But the real twist on dinner that night was Ruth's new obsession: Tom. If Minerva had told Ruth about her little encounter with Tom, the questions would never end. Are his eyes as beautiful up close? Did he smell nice? Could you tell if he had muscles? All questions Minerva seriously wanted to avoid.

"So, how was everyone's day?" asked Minerva.

"Not too bad, I saw Tom again today. I passed him in the library today and he looked right at me! It was amazing, and before you laugh, just know that I'll be the one laughing once he admits he likes me," said Ruth.

Minerva rolled her eyes. Rubeus was the one who spoke up.

"Yer still goin' on bou' that boy? Slytherin's ain' nothin' but trouble. The lot o' them are jus' bad news all aroun', bes' not be gettin' involved with one o' their lot, Ruth."

Minerva instinctively patted his knee. Rubeus had been in love with Ruth since his first year when he met her, and always tried to get her off the topic of boys, it just upset him, and it hurt to know he could never have her. He felt like he was a freak, and a "normal" girl would never want him. Minerva of course, knew he was the most wonderful boy in the world, and if they weren't like brother and sister, she'd date him herself.

"Honestly Ruth, do you ever stop thinking about that boy? So what if he's 'attractive'? That's not all that matters. He could be a total doorknob, and you would be too blinded by beauty to see it," Minerva said coolly.

"Alright, point taken. So Rubeus, do you know what our homework for Professor Merrythought's class was?"

The rest of dinner was a blur before Minerva excused herself to go to the library to work on her own homework for transfiguration class.

She sat at a quiet desk in her favorite place; the corner of the library where no one ever bothered her, either because they didn't see her, or they didn't dare disturb her. She had quite the reputation as a force to be reckoned with, mess with her, and you'd regret it. Actually the only one who ever bothered her was Walburga Black, a snotty Slytherin girl in her year.

As soon as he walked into the library he saw her. Minerva, sitting all alone in a corner with her books out in front of her and her quill effortlessly gliding across her parchment. He casually walked over to her and stood across from her, waiting for her to notice him. Finally, she looked up.

"Oh, uh, hi Tom, what brings you here?"

"Well my dear, it's a library, and I'm a student, yeah big mystery," he said as he flashed his perfect white smile.

She flinched; she never liked boys calling her pet names. "I mean in my corner, bothering me while I'm trying to do my homework."

"Well, I just saw you over here and thought I'd say hi."

"You said it, and yet you're still here, is there something I can help you with?"

Okay that was it; he didn't just have a little crush on her. He felt like he was infatuated. He had talked to this girl twice in his life, and he could tell she was different. She didn't take any nonsense from anyone, and she was a strong, independent young woman. He knew that she was perfect for him, but convincing her of that would be a problem.

"May I sit down?" he asked.

"If you must," she replied. "But I must warn you, I'm not going to be much for conversation, I really need to finish." This was a lie. She had finished mere seconds before Tom walked over to her, but she didn't want to run the risk of walking around the castle with him, so she decided to stay put.

"So, Minerva." He began, not knowing exactly what was going to come out of his mouth. "I'm not sure how to say this but I think the sorting hat may have made a mistake."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Well, you see, you're just about the cleverest, most cunning girl in this school, so why aren't you in Slytherin?"

"I don't know, ask the sorting hat, I didn't put myself in Gryffindor, he did."

"That answer is bollocks and you know it," he said.

She blew out an exaggerated sigh. "I've always considered myself different, ever since I was young, but I consider myself to be a very courageous young woman. I can't remember ever being afraid of things when I was a girl. But to be honest with you Tom, I figured I'd be in Slytherin as well. In fact, I wanted to be. But the sorting hat thought otherwise, so here I am." She was surprised at herself; she had never shared that with anyone before, not even Ruth or Rubeus. Tom wasn't many things, but he was easy to talk to.

"Well, it's too bad you're not in Slytherin, we could use someone like you in our house, plus if my friends ever found out I had a crush on a Gryffindor, they'd have my head.

Despite her best efforts, the slightest shade of pink stained her cheeks. "Well that's too bad I suppose. Perhaps you should date Walburga Black; I've heard she fancies you."

"Walburga is full of hot air, and she's a total bitch. I shot her down the second she showed interest. She's just like all the other girls; beautiful, but boring. Now you on the other hand, are the entire package, beautiful, and you keep me guessing. I like that."

Her cheeks flamed scarlet now. "Well I really must be going, but it was nice to talk to you, I'll see you around." She said as she stood and gathered her things.

"Well uh, Minerva; listen, I've got time, may I walk you to your common room or something? I'll tell you what, I'll even carry you books."

She was truly torn. She thought Tom was genuine, and he clearly liked her, and she thought she may like him, probably only as a friend, but what's the harm in exploring? "Aren't you worried about your friends seeing us? Your Slytherin friends?"

"Forget about them, they can deal with it. So, what do you say? May I walk you to your common room?"

She sighed. "Sure, but I'm taking you up on carrying my books."

"Deal." he said.

They walked in silence for most of the way, but it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, it was peaceful, almost a natural silence. Tom didn't complain about carrying her books, and thankfully they didn't see any Slytherins on the way, although a few Hufflepuff second years gave them a look of confusion; after all, it wasn't common for Slytherins and Gryffindors to get along, let alone walk places together.

Once outside of the portrait hole, Minerva broke the silence.

"Well, this is my stop, thanks for carrying my books."

"Any time," Tom said as he handed them to her. Their eyes met, and Tom didn't quite know if it was just the moment, or because he thought it was a good idea, but before he could stop himself, he bent to her level and kissed her.

Minerva was so surprised that she actually started to kiss him back before she realized what she was doing. But after a few seconds, she wrapped her head around what was going on and lightly pushed Tom away. She didn't want this; this wasn't right. She turned and quickly walked up the stairs to her left, not wanting Tom to know the password for her common room.

"Wait! Minerva! I'm sorry, I- I wasn't thinking!" He called after her.

Only this time, she didn't turn and talk to him; she just kept going up the stairs, mentally kicking herself for being so stupid