Chapter 1: Something that wasn't meant to be found
Author's notes: first, I must warn you that English is not my mother-tongue (Portuguese is), so since I'm still a learner, I might do some mistakes – and not only that, as sometimes the story can also be a little limited by my lack of vocabulary and most of all, typical English expressions. What I mean is, the text may turn out to be a little too much "inflexible", if you know what I mean. And, well, even if you don't, the warning is already given, so… I have my conscience clean! '
As for the story, it is mostly about Tom Riddle, when he still was a Hogwarts student, a female made-up character of mine, and basically, their relationship. This is not going to be a romance, if that is what you're thinking about – or at least, not a conventional one, because I don't really believe Tom would be able to have such feelings. Oh, and about the spoilers, they cover everything up 'till the sixth book, including it.
Disclaimer: If you haven't figured it out yet, this is a fanfiction (with all its implications). So, if you still don't know what that is, go look somewhere else, because I'm not gonna explain to you. Dumbass!
Summary: Tom Riddle couldn't love – that was for sure – at least not the way normal people usually did. And he couldn't really understand it when people said that there was a thin line between hate and love – that was nonsense! But if there was something he truly enjoyed, that something was talking to her. It stimulated him.
I know, it sucks, but I couldn't think of anything else!
Oh, and I almost forgot: It is indeed true that my English is far from being flawless, but I promise you that I'll do my best. :-) Really!
Skipper wasn't the kind of girl to get in trouble often, if even at all. So, when she sensed something was around, she would just turn back her way and get as far as she could from it. And that included to fuss around other people's lives, because as far as she could tell, nothing of good could come out of minding other people's business. It was inconvenient, indelicate and, depending on the person, risky. She only had one single problem: she was a curious person, a very curious person – which usually made her turn blank in an impasse, confused of what to do – but she was working on that.
So, when she travelled to London on that hot Summer day, she certainly didn't expect to find anything – or anyone - out of the ordinary, for three very simple reasons: first, because as a witch, she was used to deal with very strange things; second, because as a convict reader, she was too much open-minded for her own good; and third but not least, because, since she was good at getting away from trouble, she immediately presumed that she was completely safe from it. Well, she was just about to discover how wrong she was – little by little – and today would only be the start.
Tom Riddle hated summers, for three very simple reasons: first, because the hot weather made him sweat, and that was disgusting; second, because he pretty much hated almost everything around him; and third but not least, because it was that time on the year when he couldn't help but be sent to that despicable orphanage again. He tried his best to fulfil his days studying and ignoring those around him, but even at his best efforts, it was impossible to get rid of that terrible feeling of drowning in mud. He hated being around those mudbloods, he hated being away of Hogwarts, and most of all, he hated being a half-blood orphan, and having to depend on other people's kindness. Longed was the day of his independence!
Still, it was curious to notice that one might say young master Tom didn't really support such feelings, for he was always kind and caring for those around him, and in the orphanage, many were the girls' day-dreaming about him. The staff loved him, for he was always helpful; and even the boys admired him. He was the perfect illustration of courtesy and politeness – so convincing and multifaceted that many actors could learn from his example. Only his eyes betrayed him, always as cold as stone – but people were usually too charmed up by other aspects of his person to even notice that. Specially said girls!
Struggling to survive another Summer, Tom, at least, could congratulate himself for once again being able to hide his true whereabouts every time holidays started. He definitely could not, by any chance, afford having his classmates at Hogwarts discovering about his true origins. He would do just about anything to avoid that; so when on that fateful day, Skipper turned on the corner of the Helmet Street with the main intersection of the Morris Avenue, turning on the right and then turning to the left, she was certainly lucky that he didn't notice her walking by, since he was too much busy reading a book.
She, however, had noticed him. With her eyes wide open, the pupils travelled from the boy through the window to the sign with the orphanage name one and one more time again. «It can't be him!», she though. «What would he do at a place like this?». Staring persistently trying to find any thing that would dismiss the new found truth, Tom sensed her, and as he looked through her direction, she kept walking fast before he could recognize her.