Alright, I'll cut to the chase. You clicked on this hopefully to read it, so I won't hold you back. This chapter is short, I realize. I have a lot more written but I'm looking for feedback so I can edit it to fit whatever ya'll who review seem to like/want, as well as plot development critiques.
This is my first fanfiction, so, let me have it. Be as mean or nice as you want, just be truthful.

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Silveriat Raines was exactly eleven years old the day she received her letter from Hogwarts. It was a breezy sort of morning, yet the 1938 sun beat down on the Raines household with a sort of roguish ferocity. The heat was of little consequence to Miss Raines, however, as the small girl lay stretched across the cool cobalt cover of a bed, golden hair fanned about her head like a lion's mane. The day would appear quite normal to anyone else, but to young Miss Raines, it was one worthy of a frantically beating heart, fluttering near her stomach like tiny insect wings.

The first disturbance to the seemingly average May morning was a tiny scritching noise at the window, like sharp claws sliding smoothly down the framed glass. Silveriat Raines flew up in a bolt, heart now pushing its way into her throat.

"Mum! It's here!" Her shout was shrill, and the handsome Tawny Owl perched atop the outside windowsill blinked, fixating thick yellow eyes upon the source of the noise.

Silveriat skittered to the glass in a rush, causing the brown-and-black speckled bird to rustle its wings uncomfortably as she fiddled with the latch. The window burst open with a soft 'pop', allowing the owl to step cautiously onto Silveriat's dresser before sticking out one leg, staring pointedly at the parchment envelope tied by a thin string. Shivering with anticipation, Silveriat sucked in a shaky breath before untying the letter, fumbling with the intricate knot. The owl sighed patiently, the rowan feathers on its chest ruffled as it looked at her with a sort of robust sympathy. She smiled shyly, assuming it had sat through such a process too many times to count.

"Sorry Mr. Owl," she murmured softly, "I've never gotten my own mail before." The owl hooted gently in response, clicking its beak once as if to say 'it's okay!'

Thumpthumpthump. At the sound of dainty footsteps pounding up the stairs the owl swiveled its head, wary of the sudden intrusion. The navy door swung open with a creak, and Silveriat's lips thinned with mild distaste.

"Silver. Your owl has arri-? Ah." Her mother's voice was frosty and feminine, almost cat-like in nature. Its owner stood framed in the door, chocolate hair falling neatly over lukewarm eyes. A lavender robe hung across the woman's thin shoulders, drawn right up to her angled chin.

"Well go on then. Open it." A slight smile marred her cool expression, hinting at the carefully controlled affection Katrina Raines held for her daughter. Silveriat nodded slowly, green eyes wide as she stared at the envelope. Addressed in deep sapphire, the tiny script seemed to glisten against the cream of fresh parchment.

Miss S. Raines
The Blue Room
23 Kennings Way
London

Silveriat had always wondered how owls always knew exactly where to fly. She supposed it was magic of course, but maybe at Hogw—

"Silver, why is that owl still here? Disgusting birds always fly off as soon as you've gotten your letter." Silveriat creased her brow, emerald eyes calculating. The owl in question turned its gaze to Mrs. Raines in a glare, large amber eyes smoldering. Silveriat did not miss the gesture.

"Mum! They're not exactly stupid! Be nice to the poor thing." Behind Silveriat's back, Mrs. Raines rolled her eyes, but let out a rather fake affronted sniff for her daughter's benefit.

"Fine. The great and mighty, largely intelligent masters of wisdom are usually gone at this point. Better?"
The owl continued to glare.
Silveriat sighed with annoyance and returned to her letter, heart racing back to a frantic drum roll. As quickly as she could manage, the golden-haired girl separated the letter and envelope, blinking as two other sheaves of parchment drifted to the floor. I'll pick them up in a minute, she mused, unfolding the thick paper at hand. She began to read aloud.

Dear Miss Raines,

I am quite pleased to understand you have been accepted into Hogwarts and would like to congratulate you personally. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is an excellent place of learning, and I dearly hope you shall meet many new friends at our facilities. I would like to direct your attention to one student in particular, however, and would so kindly ask that you mind him the benefit of your friendship.
The student's name is Tom Riddle. I have no doubts you will stumble across him at some point this year. I will divulge no further information, but must stress the importance of your remaining vigilant in your efforts to befriend young Mr. Riddle.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore
Deputy Headmaster
'A single light may charm a room from black to grey' - Merlin

By the end of the letter, Silveriat's tone had shifted from one of nervous anticipation to confusion. What was that all about? The girl glanced at Mrs. Raines, eyes shining with a stunning curiosity.

But her mother's demeanor had changed.

While Mrs. Raines was normally a distant woman, her composure had frozen into something icy, and her face fostered a suddenly guarded expression. Some dark emotion flitted behind hazel eyes as she examined her daughter.

"Albus." She spoke quietly, terse voice barely above a murmur. Katrina Raines looked at her daughter sharply, eyes hard. "I would suggest you stay away from this Riddle boy." It was not a request, but a command.

"You will need to floo over to Diagon Alley and purchase the items on your school list. I will send you money, as well as enough for a small treat, with the elf before you leave." A soft whooshingnoise, and the woman had turned on a dime and was out the door, cloak flapping angrily at her heels.

Her mother hadn't even wished her only daughter a 'happy birthday'.

Struggling with immense confusion, Silveriat gazed over the letter once again, wondering if she'd missed something that could explain her mother's sudden exit. She realized she had skipped the post script before, and scanned it now with haste.

(P.S. Hunton will await your reply before departing.)

 So that was why the owl hadn't left yet. Hunton hooted softly, his eyes expectant. Silveriat turned to the large brown tawny with a sigh. The postscript hadn't told her anything.

"I expect you'll be wanting your answer now, huh Hunton?" Silveriat's voice was dismal, and she shook her head in an attempt to clear the cloudy emotion that choked her throat. She could have expected as much from her mother, but whyhad she turned so cold? Hunton continued to stare in response.

Struggling not to dwell on the matter, Silveriat shuffled somewhat miserably over to her mahogany desk, grabbed a stray quill with parchment, and almost scribbled a 'no, sorry' back to Dumbledore. She stopped with her quill in mid-stroke and grimaced. Did she really haveto listen to her mother this time? Silveriat bit her lip, torn with indecision.

How would she know who her daughter's friends were? It wasn't like she'd be seeing her all that much. A thrill of excitement shot through Silveriat's chest at the thought. Dumbledore had said it was important, too… With this, she made her decision, green eyes flashing with determination.

Disregarding eleven years of careful obedience, Silveriat Raines pursed her lips and lowered the eagle-feather quill back to the parchment. The single downward stroke for an 'n' quickly morphed into an 'M' as she scrawled—

Mr. Dumbledore,

Thank you very much, sir! I look forward to starting term at Hogwarts this September. As for Mr. Riddle, I would love to accept this task… I'm sure Tom will be a nice friend.

Thanks,

Silveriat Raines

After quickly scanning the parchment once, Silveriat curled up her response and held it out to Hunton. The owl clamped it tightly in his dark beak before taking off out the window, silent wings beating the air as he shrunk to a mottled dot on the horizon.

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Thoughts, comments, concerns? It gets more exciting soon [at least I think it does ;p ], so tell me what ya'll think in a review.
Thanks!
-LeopardGecko