"Make us proud Tom!" Merope's voice was distant as the Hogwarts Express left the platform. Tom Riddle Jr. waved at his parents watching them vanish as the train rounded a corner. His pale fingers stroked the ancient locket around his neck with a sense of pride. A smile touched his handsome face. Tom knew he would be a Slytherin. He had been a Slytherin from birth and would continue to live out his heritage. As Tom sat down, the glass door of his compartment opened.
"You don't mind if I sit here do you? Everywhere else was a bit full," said the young boy already stepping into the small space. Tom nodded slowly, taking in the lad's pale blonde hair and pointed face. "Malfoy," he started, offering his hand to Tom. "Lucious Malfoy." Tom shook his fingers gingerly.
"Tom Riddle," he replied, looking into the cool grey eyes before him. As the eyes lowered to the locket, they widened. Tom chuckled at Lucious's expression. "It is Slytherin's if you were wondering. His blood in me makes up for my muggle father." The two were silent after this. Conversation did not strike them until girlish giggles filled the compartment.
"You two aren't Mudbloods, are you?" one of the girls asked rather harshly. Tom laughed charmingly.
"Hopefully not. Lucious?" Lucious shook his head, disgust clear on his face. The shortest girl sighed in relief while the tallest plopped down next to Tom. The other stuffed a few suitcases next to Tom's and Lucious', then slid down on the floor.
"Finally! They're bloody everywhere on this damn train!" the tallest exclaimed. "Oh yes," she grinned. "I'm, Bellatrix Black, or Bella as I'm often called." She winked at Tom, finding him extremely attractive. "And these are my younger sisters Andromeda and Narcissa." Bella and Narcissa were incredibly different. Both were beautiful in their own ways, but in very different ways. Bella wore a mass of curly black hair. It seemed as if it was attempted at being managed, yet was thrown messily around her face. Her midnight eyes were heavily shadowed and she had a certain dark beauty about her that portrayed divinely in an elegant onyx dress. Narcissa on the other hand was a possessor of a silky golden mane that flowed passed her shoulders. Her features were not as wild as Bellatrix's were, but all the same she was captivating. Lucious seemed to think this too because he was ogling at Narcissa without shame. Now Andromeda resembled Narcissa slightly more than Bella. Short brown hair framed her cheeks, and lighter earth-toned eyes light up her tan face. Her skin was much darker than the other's pale complexion.
"I didn't catch your names." Narcissa spoke for the first time in a voice that was high in pitch, unlike Bella's that was on the deep side.
"I'm Lucious Malfoy." Lucious was quick to answer, smiling kindly at the blonde beauty. She returned the gesture as Tom introduced himself, and mentioned with great confidence his Slytherin blood. The Blacks were most impressed with this knowledge, especially Bellatrix. Narcissa was rather innocent, and was not as into her family's long history of dark witches and wizards as her sister. Andromeda was independent and did not agree with her family's prejudices, but did not dare say so. She was not a kind girl and was occasionally bullied by her older, and younger, sister for being one of the smartest Black witch. Bellatrix on the other hand was intent on following her ancestors' examples even at a young age. It was evident that Bella was getting her hopes up for Tom, but he was more determined for his future than girls at that point in time. "How is it that you three aren't the same age?" Andromeda spoke this time.
"Our parents decided that we should learn at Hogwarts at the same time. Bella had to wait a year for me, and we had to wait another for Cissy. She had trouble with her wand at first, we almost thought she was a squib."
"You shut up, Dromeda!" Cissy yelled at her sister, pulling her wand out of he robes. Dromeda sneered, copying her sibling.
"Enough!" commanded Bella strongly. Both remained silent for the remainder of the ride.
As the Hogwarts Express lolled to a stop, the four first-years stepped onto the platform without words. A tall witch whose head was garnished with thick chocolate hair held up a bright wand. "First-years this way please!" she directed loudly over the chatter of the students.