A/N: This is also being published on AO3

They first met when Tom was sixteen and Ginevra was eleven.

Not a typical age to meet one's soulmate, for sure – but Tom always knew he was special. Despite his lackluster beginnings, fate always had a way of favoring him. He struggled his entire life to gain what should have always been his. Of course the universe would reward him with Ginny early on in life.

Tom had been assigned a group project with her brother Percy. Tom wasn't someone who made actual friends. He made acquaintances with people who would help him either immediately or later on in life. Percy Weasley didn't have much to offer, likely to just be another government drone someday, but he was studious and determined and mostly quiet, and Tom decided he didn't mind the other boy's company.

The town library just so happened to be temporarily closed so the roof could be prepared so they couldn't go there to work. Tom refused to have anyone see the orphanage he was forced to live in. (Most were under the impression he lived with a distant cousin who traveled a lot. Such were the gullible masses.) Percy was reluctant to let Tom to his own house, said it was run-down and noisy, but Tom insisted. He was used to studying with screaming children and loud noises in every room.

The home of the Weasley family was very well lived in. The outside of the two-story home was covered in mismatched paint, scratches, dents, and stains. The yard was full of discarded footballs and shoes. Two cats chased each other around the front porch.

"We can never keep this place clean. It drives our mum crazy," Percy said. "We actually call it 'The Burrow'. It certainly does feel like a family of animals sharing a hole in the ground sometimes."

Tom nodded and smoothed the jacket on his school uniform. He hoped nothing would stain it here. It was a hassle to get laundry done properly in the crowded orphanage.

Mrs. Weasley was loud and nosy, asking "Who's your friend, Percy?" and all that nonsense as soon as they entered the kitchen. She was in the middle or rolling out pie dough. Her entire front was coated in flour.

All it took was explaining they had to start working on their project for her to usher them into the living room with a pot of tea and plate of sandwiches and a promise to leave them alone. Tom observed the area. It wasn't so much messy as there was just an abundance of stuff in it. Beside the couch he was seated on and the coffee table in front of him, there was an old looking television against the wall. An armchair contained piles of knitted yarn and needles. There were school bags and jackets and books lying on every available surface. A few bookshelves contained ratty old novels and photographs.

"Two of my brothers are at football practice and the other is visiting a friend," Percy said. "They shouldn't be home for another hour or two so we have plenty of time to work without them distracting us. My sister might be upstairs, though."

"I'm sure she won't be a bother." Tom took a sandwich and opened his textbook. He still would have preferred the library but this was nowhere near as bad as he imagined. At least there was free food here.

They worked for about thirty minutes in relative peace before the sound of someone rushing down the stairs disturbed them. The source of the noise came running into the room. Tom barley glanced up, only catching a glimpse of long dark red hair before returning to his book. This must be the sister.

"Percy, have you seen my – Oh, I didn't notice you had a friend over."

What was with these people and friends? They were clearly not just hanging around.

Percy sighed. "Ginny, this is Tom Riddle. He's my classmate. Tom, this is my little sister, Ginny."

Great, now he had to introduce himself to the little girl. Tom lifted his head and pulled his lips into a charming smile. "How very nice to meet you, Ginny."

He finally took a proper look at her. She seemed like an average girl. Thin limbs and a slight tan on her fair skin. Freckles across her cheeks and lively brown eyes. Her auburn hair was offset by the blue dress she wore. She made a lively picture.

She grinned and stretched out a hand. "Nice to meet you, too! Sorry you have to put up with Percy here."

Tom found himself genuinely laughing, which was rare. He grasped her small hand firmly and shook it.

Percy swatted her other arm lightly. "You little brat," he said with no actual ire in his tone. "Your diary is in the twins' room, by the way. I think they're trying to undo the lock."

"Ugh, those jerks! Thanks, Percy." She quickly turned and left the room.

"So, back to why Thomas Wolsey fell out of favor..."

Tom was barely listening to his partner. His mind kept replaying the short meeting between him and Ginny Weasley. How warm her eyes were, how wonderfully vibrant her hair was, how delicate her hand felt in his larger one.

Tom had never thought about anyone else for more than a minute at a time, and yet he couldn't seem to get that girl's crooked smile out of his mind.

To his disappointment, she didn't come back down before he left. Tom had to abide by Mrs. Cole's strict curfew, after all.

X

Tom was restless that night. He tossed and turned on his cot in his shoe box of a room. The curtain-less window let in too much moonlight. The thin mattress seemed harder than usual.

This was ridiculous. There was school tomorrow. All the residents of the orphanage had to be up before dawn in order to fight for the bathroom and grab something for breakfast. Tom had spent years instilling a sense of fear in the other children. How else could he insure that he was left alone and that he received the best of the meager rations? Tom was better than this place. One day he would be powerful enough to have it razed to the ground.

He sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. Having dark circles tomorrow would only get him an unwanted kind of attention. He wanted his peers to praise and idolize him. Tom despised anyone who tried to pity him, for any reason.

He couldn't stop thinking about his time at the Weasley home. Specifically, their daughter.

What was this? Tom hated children. He was plagued everyday by whiny brats who hadn't accepted they were unwanted by anyone and refused to make something of themselves. The underclassmen at school were loud and stupid and talked about nonsense all day.

And yet he couldn't get that little girl out of his head. Was it her smile? Her bold manner? The fact that her hand made his feel so warm?

She was likely as annoying as all other children her age. Prattling on about boy bands and pink and unicorns and whatever else. Really, it was astounding that she didn't blush and sputter like so many other empty headed females did around him.

Still, he thought...maybe he wouldn't mind hearing all that as long as it was coming from her. Maybe the girl could help him finally understand the appeal behind the things his classmates talked about. Tom sometimes felt he was cut off from them. He was often told he was handsome, but he never understood why people kept telling him he should find a girlfriend. Such feelings were beyond him. It was a waste of time that distracted from more important things – like being accepted into a world renowned university.

School was his only real respite from coming back to Wool's in the evenings, but now for the first time Tom looked forward to tomorrow evening. If only so he could see Ginny Weasley again and figure out what was so damn special about her.

X

It took a week for Tom and Percy to finish their project. Tom always insisted they return to The Burrow, as Percy kept calling it. Ginny only came by a few times. To his delight, she always stopped to greet him and her brother.

She always had something to talk about. She would make a short complaint about another family member, or ask to borrow something. She would make a crack at a teacher or declare her intentions to go outside and play football.

"Are you a big fan?" Tom asked, hoping to make her stay a moment longer. The girl was very energetic, running from one place to the next.

She grinned at him. "Yeah, I am! Mum says its 'unladylike' but I want to join the Hogwarts' team in a few years. The twins say I'd be bad at it but I practice all the time. Dad says I have a natural talent!"

"Who's your favorite team?" he asked. Her enthusiasm was oddly contagious. Tom was always the one who manipulated other people's emotions. No one else ever had much effect on him.

"Ooh, the Holyhead Harpies! They are definitely the end goal for me! I'll be wearing their uniform by the time I'm twenty, just you wait! They're the best in the whole UK! Right, Percy?"

"They certainly do kick a ball around," he murmured.

"Hmph. At least Tom appreciates them. Right, Tom?"

"Of course." Tom hardly knew anything about any sports team. "I daresay they'll make it to the next World Cup."

Ginny smiled even wider. "I know! I would die if they did, I swear!"

"Gin, weren't you going outside?" Percy said, finally getting impatient. "We have to finish this by tomorrow."

Ginny deflated a little. Tom wanted to punch him. (And where did that come from?)

"Fine. I'll see you later, Tom." She avoided her brother's gaze as she made her way to the backdoor.

Tom strongly felt the loss of her presence. He was still annoyed at the other boy. Who did he think he was to wipe that bright smile off of Ginny's face?

"She seems to like you," Percy mused. "I hope she isn't bothering you any. She's just very friendly and outgoing, you see."

"Not at all," Tom replied. "I find her company refreshing, actually."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any siblings, Tom?"

Damn. Why was he getting into Tom's business now? "No, I'm an only child." Best just to leave it at that.

Percy smiled. "Oh, so do you imagine Ginny as what having a sister is like? I have to admit, she's my favorite out of the whole bunch. Nowhere near as difficult as Ron and the twins can be."

Sister? Tom had never imagined, or wanted to imagine, what having actual siblings was like. From what he could tell, it wasn't much different from dealing with the other children at the orphanage. Older ones who would bully and shove, younger ones who complained and were probably sticky with sugar. But maybe he was wrong about that. Maybe Ginny was somehow inspiring...fraternal feelings in him. It was the only thing that made sense. Brothers were supposed to protect and adore their sisters, so he always heard.

"Yes," he said, relieved to finally have an answer to his dilemma. "A lovely little sister."

X

Tom made the decision to befriend Percy Weasley.

With their project done, Tom needed an excuse to continue to visit The Burrow on a regular basis. The boy could be bossy and overly stiff at times, but Tom could make this work. With Tom's help, Percy would be able to achieve more than he ever dreamed of. He could climb the ranks of whatever ministry he ended up working for. All he needed was an extra push or two.

In the meanwhile, Tom would reap the benefits of visiting the Weasley home on a regular basis.

Percy knew how to avoid his kin with ease. As long as Tom stuck by him then he wouldn't have to worry about being caught in the chaos. Mrs. Weasley wasn't so unbearable as long as she didn't speak to him for more than a minute or two. She would smile and simper and congratulate Percy on his new friend as long as Tom paid her the proper compliments. (Hello, Mrs. Weasley. Lovely day, Mrs. Weasley. Your cooking is wonderful, Mrs. Weasley. Oh, call you Molly? I could never!) So easy to charm. Tom, of course, was glad to accept the snacks she kept heaping upon him.

Tom didn't see much of the Weasley patriarch, but the interactions were brief when he did. Mr. Weasley would smile and say hello before wandering off to the garage or to pester one of his children.

Fred and George's reputation preceded them. Tom had been hearing about the exploits of the twins for as long a she could remember. Though he never actually spoke with them, Tom thought he would find them annoying. He was right. When the two weren't off at a sporting event or loose in the streets, they were wreaking havoc upon their own home. They interrupted Tom's studying with their loud voices and the odd noises that came from their room. His blood boiled when he once heard Ginny let out a screech that was followed by their laughter.

They would occasionally come to tease Percy. Tom would admit that it was a bit funny to see his serious-natured companion get his feathers ruffled by his younger brothers. No, they would only become a real nuisance if they ever decided to bother Tom. He managed to keep them away with a grin and some flattering words, much like their mother.

He only saw the youngest, Ron, if he stayed for dinner. The boy was a year older than Ginny. Tom didn't see anything particularly impressive about him. Just another rude and brash little boy who didn't understand why no one payed him much attention. Tom also learned that the two oldest brothers, Bill and Charlie, were off working abroad. He was glad to know this. Though often overwhelming, the Weasleys were a goldmine of potential. Once he earned their loyalty, who knew how much they would end up benefiting him one day!

And then there was Ginny, (his) their little princess. A spitfire, full of energy and could go from smiles to clenched fists in a matter of seconds. The Weasleys all thought he was lonely and desperate for a proper family, and therefor didn't mind when Tom sought out Ginny's company.

The girl was a bit shy about letting an older boy in her room at first. Tom soon convinced her he meant no harm. And maybe for the first time in his life, that was true. Tom still didn't fully understand this desire to be around this child but he was never one to deny himself.

Tom was thrilled to spend time in the atrociously pink room ("Mum won't let me redecorate, can you believe it?"). The walls were covered by posters for the Harpies and a few bands Tom wasn't familiar with. A small bookshelf was full of comic books and novels aimed towards young audiences. An antique desk was pushed against the window. On top of it lay a stuffed snake and lion, surely remnants of her younger childhood. Tom found the snake much more charming.

Tom would perch on the end of her bed with what was surely a foolish smile on his face and listen to her prattle on about things he would hate to hear form anyone else.

"My friend Luna came to school wearing earrings made out of turnips! Isn't that weird? Umbridge didn't have to make her write so many lines for it, though."

"Why do they have to assign homework on Fridays? They should know we would rather die than do it."

"I saw the cutest cat today! It was orange with black ears and paws!"

"You're lucky you don't have long hair, Tom. It hurts if I keep it pulled back to long but it keeps getting in my face if I let it down."

"It's not stupid to keep a diary, is it? I just, I dunno, I feel like I have a lot of thoughts and I just need to
sort them out. Not that anyone cares what I think..."

"Fred and George drive me mad sometimes! Mum doesn't even do anything about it, just tells us to be quiet and behave. Bill and Charlie never treated me like this."

"Do you know my name is actually Ginevra? Mum only calls me that when she's mad at me."

Tom found as much as he liked seeing her face light up when she was telling a nicer story, it was the negative things that really caught his attention. He could use those things to endear her more to him.

Tom was always understanding, always charming. "Writing down your thoughts is important, Ginny! It's important to know who you are and what you stand for. You're hair is quite lovely, no matter how you wear it. Ginevra, eh? A pretty name for a pretty girl. May I call you that? I would never tease you so if you were my sister. Are you having trouble with your schoolwork? Perhaps I could tutor you?"

And Ginny just loved him. She hung on his every word just as he did to hers. She would follow him all around The Burrow, ignoring the brothers who would jeer and mock. It only made her cling to him tighter. Tom thought he knew how young girls thought. He was an older boy who paid her special attention. Naturally, she would want more, she would want to be told she was special, which she was. Tom was happy to encourage her and support her. Anything to keep her this close.

Dare he say he saw a blush on her cheeks from time to time?

X

The winter holidays were upon them in no time.

The past few months were some of the happiest of Tom's life. Finally, he had a reprieve from the cold orphanage at The Burrow. It took some time for Mrs. Cole to believe that he wasn't actually running loose in the streets or engaging in criminal activity when he was gone. Once he did manage to convince her he was staying with what many would deem "decent" people, she backed off, warning him not to offend them in any way. She wouldn't be bailing him out of jail.

The majority of the Weasley clan still grated on Tom's nerves from time to time, but it was worth it to see Ginny. Besides, they kept the fireplace lit and always had food waiting. (Though how they afforded that much of it, Tom did not know.)

Tom had figured out how to win the twins' favor. All he had to do was suggest certain chemical to use in their next prank and how to cover their tracks and suddenly he was their hero. All he asked was that they leave him be at their home except for short conversations. Mrs. Weasley praised him for being a good influence on her trouble making sons.

They had invited him to stay at their home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. He forced his eyes to moisten and smiled gratefully because he was expected to play the part of the thankful orphan who found friends that became his new family, or whatever. He was to sleep in Percy's room but spent most of the evening with Ginny, helping her bake gingerbread men and wrapping homemade gifts for her family.

Tom had spent a bit of money he saved on a new writing pen for her. It was an emerald green that had her initials in cursive writing. He was sure she would love it. Green was Tom's favorite color and he thought it suited her wonderfully, too.

He went to sleep on his borrowed cot with a smile on his face. He never enjoyed Christmas before but now he was finally understanding the appeal. (He really hoped he wasn't expected to produce a gift for the whole family.)

Christmas morning was a pleasant affair. They all sat in the living room. Mrs. Weasley passed out plates of eggs and toast and mugs of hot chocolate for everyone to hold on their laps while they opened presents. Tom was surprised to be handled a wrapped parcel, which turned out to be a hand knitted blue sweater with a T on the chest. He thanked her warmly and dutifully slipped it over his head. He wouldn't be caught dead wearing this in public, although it might be nice on those cold nights at Wool's. Did this mean they had fully accepted him? Had Tom earned their unquestioned devotion?

Ginny, naturally, was overjoyed to receive her pen. He smiled as he was rewarded with a tight hug. She gave him a small bag full of home made chocolates.

The family eventually went to other parts of the house. Ginny stayed with him on the couch, switching between laughing at old holiday specials and talking. It began to snow around lunch, so they finally changed out of their sleepwear and went outside. Her tiny gloved hand clutched his as they walked around the back yard. The snow wasn't very heavy, barely enough to coat the ground. Ginny tried to catch flakes on her tongue and flicked bits onto Tom, giggling and squealing when he retaliated. He didn't feel the cold once.

Yes, the day went fantastically. That is, until dinner time.

The dining table was cramped, elbows and feet bumping together. Tom managed to sit between Ginny and Percy. Across from them was Ron and a little boy with messy black hair and glasses that Tom had only seen a few times before. He wore too-large clothing and smiled shyly. Harry Potter, Tom believed was his name.

"Thanks for having me, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," he said.

"Oh, Harry, dear, it's no trouble. We're always glad to see you!" the matriarch crooned.

"Why haven't we seen much of you lately? Have your relatives been treating you well?" Mr. Weasley asked around a mouthful of roast.

The boy looked down at his plate. "Yeah, they've...it's been fine."

Mrs. Weasley huffed but didn't press the issue. Food continued to be eaten and conversation carried on.

Tom swallows a forkful of potatoes and turned to ask Ginny what she was doing on New Year's Eve. Tom hadn't tried to celebrate his birthday in years but now he wanted to do something special with her. He would even let her pick the activity, whether it be see a ridiculous film or go to the park.

The words never left his mouth. Ginny, his little lioness, was being unusually quiet. She looked down at her food shyly. Her fair skin looked paler than usual.

"Ginny, are you alright?" he murmured. Why was he the only one seeing this?

She didn't answer, only moving to pick at her carrots.

"Ginevra?"

That caught her attention. "Huh? Oh, it's nothing Tom. Just a little spacey."

She looked back down but Tom could see she was looking at something. He followed her gaze and it lead right to the Potter boy. All of the brat's attention was on Ron as they talked about Hogwarts' last winning football match. Ron was saying Harry was destined to be a pro at the game. Neither of them paid Ginny any attention.

Tom started to feel irritated. Why would she look at that stupid little boy like that when Tom was right next to her? Wasn't he her best friend? Enough girls had looked at Tom that way for him to recognize Ginny's feelings. It disgusted him to realize that she had a crush on Potter. How ridiculous. Tom didn't see anything special about him. Ginny likely realized it, too, which was why she didn't try to gain his attention. Poor girl must be embarrassed to harbor any feelings for her stupid brother's friend.

It was no matter. Tom would surely take a bigger place in his Ginny's heart as more time went on. Had that boy ever lavished her in attention? Had he ever bought her thoughtful gifts?

The boy didn't matter. Tom kept telling himself that throughout dinner. Ginny didn't perk up again until Tom practically dragged her back to the television with a plate of sweets. The boy didn't matter, didn't matter, didn't matter. Even as he thought it, Tom became sure of one thing.

He did not like Harry Potter.