Hi! Okay, this isn't my first fanfic, but I'm a little rusty. This story was a challenge from wynebat, so I hope you guys are satisfied with it. I'll correct mistakes the best I can and just have fun with it. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter Franchise

"Regular talking"

'Thinking' / 'Talking through telepathy'

"Parceltongue"

Chapter One: Beware, The Smiles of Painted Gold

Tom allows himself to relax, just a bit, after he sits in the train cart he had procured since the end of his first year. No one, aside from those few he had specifically given permission to, would disturb him unless they wished to face the merciless consequences. His inner circle had not sat yet, nor would they until the last half hour before they reached the station. Until then, he would be left in peace. The Slytherin prodigy sat in silence, reading his worn copy of Ancient Runes and Origins. His peace, however, did not last long. Tom becomes deadly still as the door slides open. Glaring forest green eyes meet open, bright indigo that couldn't decide if they were blue of violet.

It was a girl, about his age, that he had never seen before. Tom would have recognized her, as he had made it a point to know who was of importance, but he simply could not tell who she was. She wore a pale blue, flowing sundress, a pair of cared for sandals, and her long, wavy hair the color of a rich wine trailed nearly to her waist. Her lightly tanned skin suggested that she was used to going outdoors. Only a single large trunk sat behind her.

"Sorry to interrupt." Her voice was light, but soothing with her foreign accent. "Is it alright if I sit here? Everyone else is so loud I want to stab myself in the throat with my wand."

Tom ponders it. He strongly considers telling her to leave, but his curiosity proves too strong. That, and the prospect of another potential ally.

"It's fine." He nods to the seat across from him. "Have a seat, if you wish."

"Thanks." She smiles widely at him and puts her trunk in the holder above her. "My name's Calliope Lafey, by the way."

Tom's eyes snap back to her. Lafey? As in Morgana Lafey? This was an interesting development. She would indeed be a useful ally.

"Tom Marvalo Riddle." He offers his full name.

The girl, Lafey, turns to him with wide eyes. She sinks into the seat and studies him as if trying to solve a particularly difficult puzzle. It amuses him a bit that him sharing his name is what catches her attention. Lafey finally leans back in her seat, that curious look never leaving her eyes.

"Be careful giving out your full name." Lafey advises him. "They have power in them."

"How so?" He's intrigued by her choice of words.

"Names can hold power over someone of something." She informs the knowledge hungry teen. "Especially for different cultures and species. The Fair Folk particularly. For example; if you don't know the name of an object, than you can't summon it. Only people who exclusively study it can do anything with that type of magic. And since it's rarely used or practiced, it isn't classified as light or dark magic."

"That is fascinating." Tom inwardly smirks at the information. "Have you studied it before?"

"Yeah, but I have my family books to reference to." Lafey shrugs and leans her head against the window.

Tom smirked at the news. He would have to keep a close eye on this one. She would be quite the ally.

~/^SKIP^\~

Tom mused that the last thirty minutes will be interesting. Lafey and Tom look to the door when they hear it open. Abraxas Malfoy, in front as usual, freezes when he spots Lafey. She nods to him in greeting. He slowly walks in and sits next to Tom. Alphard Black, Santon Yaxley, and Ephrem Zabini follow behind him. They look from Lafey to Tom with uncertainty. Black sits next to her with Yaxley on the other side of him and Zabini sits next to Malfoy.

"What up?" Lafey greets them with a grin.

"Hullo." Black nods to her. "Alphard Black, a pleasure to meet you."

"Calliope Lafey." She extends a hand. "It's nice to meet you, too."

Black gives her a charming grin as he pulls her hands to his lips for a feather light kiss. She offers a shy smile, her face going a little pink.

"Santon Yaxley." Yaxley smiles curtly at her.

"Ephrem Zabini." He also offers a charming grin. "I've never seen you around before. Which house are you in?"

"I'm a transfer student from NYSM." Lafey admits. "I have to be sorted, actually."

"So you went to the New York School of Magic?" Black questions her.

"Yeah." Lafey replies. "It's right in the heart of the city."

"What sort of classes did you take?" Tom surprises his three 'followers' by speaking to her directly.

"AP Potions, AP Latin, French, AP Runes." Lafey begins. "Pre-AP Dueling, Arithmancy, Ministry Politics, and AP Self Defense."

"AP?" Black raises an eyebrow. "Pre-AP?"

"Advanced placement and pre-advanced placement." She explains. "Which means I'm higher in rank than anyone else my age and even some who're older. Instead of being sorted, students are placed in a class depending on gender and the student's own learning curve. I was in the top one hundred."

"Out of how many students?" Black inquires.

"A little over fifteen hundred." Lafey admits, crossing her legs. "From ages five to fifteen. After that, students either transfer to a non-magical school or one of the 'Big Three' here in Europe."

"Why not Beauxbatons?" Malfoy interjects.

"Personal reasons." She brushes off the answer.

Tom's allies glance at each other and back to him, as if asking what they were going to discuss with Lafey there. She notices the looks and stands.

"Well, gentlemen, it was nice talking to you all." Lafey nods to each of them. "I guess I'll see you later."

And with that, their newest potential ally exits the cart. Zabini switches to the other side and they all look to Tom for some kind of explanation.

"She will be a useful ally." Tom admits to them.

"What if she's sorted into Gryffindor?" Yaxley asks, careful to keep his tone polite.

"Then she can recruit without catching anyone's attention." Tom smirks at them. "Right from under their noses."

"Is there anything we can do?" Black, always the most sure of himself, raises an eyebrow.

"Charm her over to our side, of course." Their leader's expression becomes calculating. "Black or Zabini, it doesn't matter who, one of you will woo her. That should sway her."

"Yes, Lord." The two give each other matching grins.

{*/~ SKIP ~\*}

Tom silently glares at the Transfiguration teacher, Albus Dumbledore, as he sorts the first years. He absolutely detested the man. Dumbledore's suspicions of him grated at his nerves. The only teacher who was not charmed by him. When he got the chance, Tom would gladly take him down several pegs. Headmaster Dippet stands and walks forward to stand next to Dumbledore. His smile dims a bit as Lafey confidently walks forward, still wearing her sundress. Tom smirks at the audacity of the American who refused to wear the Hogwarts' uniform.

"This year we have a transfer student from The New York School of Magic!" Dippet announces to the school. "She shall be sorted and will be joining with the Fifth-Year class! I hope you embrace our American friend with open arms!"

"Lafey, Calliope!" Dumbledore's announcement of her surname causes the students to stare in shock.

She sits on the stool and has the hat placed on her head. Lafey scans the houses, briefly catching his eye. The hat is silent. Tom's eyes narrow at the girl. It shouldn't take this long for her to be sorted. He suspected the hat wasn't sure where to put her. A look of irritation crosses her face, but is quickly masked by indifference.

"RAVENCLAW!" The sorting hat finally breaks the oppressive silence.

Lafey joins the cheering blue and bronze clad house. They welcome her with open arms. A devilish smirk spreads across Tom's face. Out of all of the houses, Ravenclaw was the more neutral of the four. Hufflepuff tended to either stay with their own and only tried to interact with the ravens or lions. She will, indeed, be useful. Tom shifts back to his followers. His forest green eyes find the silver of Lucretia Black.

"Befriend her. " He keeps it short. "She will be useful."

Tom cared little for the house separation, as long as id didn't interfere with his plans. Black's cousin also seemed to not care for it, so she would easily become acquainted with the girl. Now to business.

"How many more?" Tom eyes Zabini.

"Only two, but their families have reach." Zabini has a neutral expression. "They will spread your influence easily."

"Good, but I want triple the amount next time." He glares at him before moving to Malfoy. "Any news?"

"Most Pureblood families are obtaining marriage contracts for any child they have in Fifth-Year and above." Malfoy sounds a bit somber. "I am fortunate as to not have one yet."

"We shall discuss other matters later." Tom instructs them. "Yaxley, you keep an eye out for any potentials among the First-Years."

"Understood."

"Do not fail me." The dangerous look in Tom's eyes makes them shrink back a bit.

Tom might not have been a towering brute, but he gave off the same menacing presence of a predator. He could make the bravest of Gryffindors cower in fear with a single look. There was no doubt that he would accomplish great things. If he wanted to, he could topple empires or plunge the world into darkness. He could save the world or end it. A cruel smile formed on Tom's face. No one would impede his goals or prevent him from claiming his rightful place at the top. God help them if they tried.

Calliope POV

Her indigo eyes study the staff and the members of her new 'house'. Most of them either ignore her or glance at her curiously. She figured it was because of the lack of uniform. Calliope had no intentions of wearing the ridiculous outfit. The way the British witches dressed was a disgrace to their kind. Robes? Really? At least wear something that doesn't reinforce No-Mags' stereotypes of magic. Unlike the rest of the magical world, the NAMG (North American Magical Government) was tied right into the No-Mag Gov't. The majority of them knew about the magical world, but it wasn't a huge issue. Most people happened to be accepting of them. Only incredibly religious 'if you're different you're going to hell' people or, ironically enough, scientists frowned upon those with magic.

Calliope hadn't wanted to go to yet another magic school, but her guardian had refused to sign the papers for her to go to a No-Mag school. So now, she finds herself stuck in a school, that doesn't even offer No-Mag classes, for three more years. Maybe she'll just cut it to two and graduate early. She snorts to herself at the thought, drawing attention from those around her. Well, she can always stir things up while she's here. A little chaos can be a good thing. These witches needed to open their eyes to the rest of the world, or they'll end up being cut off from modern society. All she needs to do is convince the rest of her generation.

Thanks for reading! Hope you liked it and don't forget to review! Oh, and Calliope's eye color is my profile pic