If Apollymi was to define the relationship between Riddle and herself, she would classify it as measuring stick rivalry. She gauged her progress on what he did and vice versa.

If he learned how to stand, she would be on her two feet racing around the next day.

If she spoke a full word, Riddle would be gabbing away sentences the morning after. It was many instances of one-upmanship that made up their interactions and frankly Apollymi found it satisfying if not a bit frustrating.

Neither of them wanted the other to have leverage so here they were neck and neck, waiting to see what the other did next.

Over time, one could say, that they were growing "close" considering the fact that both of them constantly were stuck together. As soon as the matrons figured out that Riddle treated her marginally better than the other babies they tried to put him with, they were permanent roommates. Same bed, same room, etc etc.

Even though it hadn't been her that had started this whole rivalry ordeal - Riddle really couldn't stand it if someone was better than him - it was very fulfilling. She was only lucky their relationship hadn't gone any further than competitive feelings because there were many times when hatred could have surfaced instead. Which wouldn't have fit into her plan because she had already decided to be the closest thing Lord Voldemort would have to a "friend".

On another ironic note, even their birthdays were a competition.

Riddle was older than her by a day since he was born December 31 so he turned a year, then two, then three, then four, before her. And like their rivalry dictated, the day after Apollymi's age matched his.

Like every other birthday, they experienced it went by unbidden. At a place like this, there were just too many kids to keep track of and often more than not, it passed without any recognition. So Apollymi took it upon herself to go wish Riddle a good one.

A little bit due to the fact that everyone deserved a merry thought but more so because she knew just how much it irritated him.

Oh, how she loved to ruffle his feathers.

Waddling over to the boy who sat in the corner staring intensely at a picture book, Apollymi let a leisurely grin stretch her face.

"Happy Birthday Riddle!" She called happily, clasping her hands behind her back. "Aren't you gonna wish me one too?"

Obviously ignoring her the young boy flipped a page and seemed to be concentrating very hard on whatever he was looking at. Letting her curiosity get the better of her, Apollymi peered over the edge of his book.

"Whatcha reading this time?" She asked Riddle with a friendly hum. "Looks colorful."

Said boy sent her a scathing glare - well scathing for a four-year-old - and let out a little huff.

"If you must know I'm learning my alphabets," He tactfully informed her with his little baby voice. "Something you should be doing too unless you want to lose."

Apollymi didn't even bat a lash at his tone, already too used to his personality. He was a cheeky little brat, and she really wanted to see just how he would feel about the tidbit of information she was going to oh so graciously, drop on him.

"Oh please, I don't really need to do that." She shrugged, leaning against a small bookshelf. "In fact, I already know it all."

Hook, line, sinker.

And like a switch had been thrown Riddle's near black eyes snapped to meet hers, the hunger for knowledge clear as day in his obsidian depths.

"What?" He asked as if he hadn't heard her. Riddle could play coy if he wanted to, she could see through him as if he were mist.

"I said," Apollymi teased with a grin. "I already know it. The alphabets are easy when you can read."

"You're a liar." Riddle said, boring a hole into the middle of her head. "You can't read, no one taught you how to."

"I taught myself." Apollymi said airily. "I am a genius you know. Besides, I wouldn't fib to you about something as trivial and meaningless as this."

Riddle sat in mulish silence for perhaps a few minutes before he thrust the book at her.

"Prove it."

Giving a smirk she took the hardcover from his hands, cleared her throat, and read a full page.

The effect was instantaneous. All at once his back straightened, his gaze narrowed, and a scowl fell over his cherub face. If Apollymi wasn't already used to his rather expressive reactions she would have been shocked at his sudden transformation from apathetic to fierce.

"Teach me." Riddle demanded with a determined expression and fire in his eyes. "Teach me now."

Quirking a brow Apollymi looked up to face him. "Teach me what?"

He stared at her as if she were daft and blind. "Teach me to read obviously."

Apollymi resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Not that Riddle. There's a word you're supposed to add after a request." She explained patiently, enjoying every second of the annoyance that flitted over Riddle's face. "Teach me what?"

He looked so utterly confused that Apollymi had to force herself not to cackle madly. "It's please Riddle. Teach me please."

His tiny brow furrowed.

"Why would I have to beg you?" He asked with a tilt of his head. "You'll do it anyway."

What a cocky child.

"Uh, because that's polite. If you want to get someone to do something you have to have manners, Riddle." She deadpanned with a soft scoff and Riddle quirked his brows.

"I do have manners," He told her. "Just none for you."

"And also because if you don't I won't offer my services." Apollymi said smugly as she chose to ignore what he had said. "So there."

Riddle looked ready to blow to the high heavens. His face was red and his lips were pursed as he juggled the choices around in his head.

"Come on, you know you can't give up a chance to learn something new." She cajoled. "Just say it. Once is enough."

When she saw that he still looked ready to refuse she pulled out the big guns.

"If you don't then I'll be ahead of you until you find someone else who is willing to play teacher." She stated. "And by then I could have learned so much more and you'll never catch up."

Letting out an aggravated puff of air, Riddle shifted in his place, having made his decision.

"Teach me how to read please." He grumbled with an irritated glower and Apollymi wanted to ruffle his hair but she had already learned her lesson from the last time. She could still feel the imprint of his teeth on her hand.

"Cute," She smirked. "but I still think you're missing something."

Riddle looked incensed.

"What! I added your stupid 'please' and you said I only needed to do it once!" He yelped. "What else did you want?!"

She pretended to think about it with a few taps to her chin but really she already knew what she wanted.

"How about," She drawled speculatively. "my name!"

"Fine then." He grouched, arms crossed over his chest. "Teach me to read please Apollymi."

She looked amused and with a tsk she shook her head.

"Riddle, Riddle, Riddle. You already know which name - well nickname - I wanted you to call me by." Apollymi admonished with a finger wag of shame. "Do it and I'll throw in math as a perk."

Seeming close to strangling her Riddle ground out her request.

"Teach me to read please," He seemed to choke on the word and that made Apollymi want to laugh in his face. "...Olly."

Smiling at his extreme discomfort 'Olly' nodded.

"Come on then," She prompted pointing to the small table off to the side. "We don't have all day."

"Why is the 'ph' pronounced like an 'f'?"

"Because the sound blends."

"Why is 'y' sometimes apart of the vowels?"

"Because the vowels are indecisive about 'y's' membership."

"Why is the-"

"Riddle if you don't plug your pinhole, I'll teach you to write in a foreign language and you'll be none the wiser." She threatened, at her wit's end with this infuriating boy. "And if you think I'm jesting, try me."

Her eyes narrowed and she smiled grimly as the boy settled down.

"Good boy."

Handing Riddle a few papers with the diagrams of the Alphabet and their sounds, she pressed a hand against her forehead and rubbed.

Ugh, if only she knew how much of a handful he would be she wouldn't have bothered him. She would have kept walking after giving him a birthday wish.

He asked about everything! Question after question, it never stopped!

And just when she thought it was over the torrent started up again! He was like a leaky faucet! During this lesson, she was sure she lost two full clumps of hair in a fit of frustration.

"Why does 'xy' make a 'z' noise? Why not just put a 'z' there instead if they sound the same."

"Argh!" She shouted much to Riddle's eternal amusement and Apollymi had to admit Riddle had won this round.

Make that three clumps.

This is a little light hearted but be warned this doesn't set the pace for the rest of the story. I think I'm definitely going to enjoy writing out Tom and Apollymi's interactions and relationship.

Just some insight to Apollymi's character the sorting hat's first choice will be to put her in Hufflepuff. I won't tell you the other house that would have been good for her, I'll let you guys make a guess.

Her wand is also going to be a thestral hair core (which I gave her because she has faced death quite nicely) and acacia wood. So that should tell you about her.

Edit: 4/14/16