Author's Note: I knew I was going to regret making that promise. I'm going to have to change our deal guys. I love you all but writing 3000 words a day is not leaving a lot of time for NaNoWriMo and college. Much less work and all that other stuff. But for now…

It amazed Harry how fast the rest of the summer went. He and Tom told the staff at the Orphanage that someone had helped them get all of their stuff and that it turned out she had actually written one of their books. But besides that they kind of skimmed over the details.

The staff were quite proud but were distracted as all of the other children were preparing to go to school. Unlike Harry and Tom, they weren't getting scholarships. So Mrs. Cole and Jillian were digging through paperwork trying to figure out where the money could be siphoned off for school supplies and clean clothes. So the Riddle boys were left on their own, and so they sat in their room and read through their last few weeks of summer.

Harry was a little sad about it, but Tom pointed out it would be much easier to study their books without the worry of needing to hide. He told Harry that the staff had been more attentive than usual while Harry had been here. Besides at a boarding school they weren't likely to get much attention either. There were probably going to be at least thirty other kids there. That was a lot of kids to keep track of.

The little boy nodded and turned his face back to his books. This could be used to their advantage, Tom was right…. But he couldn't focus. His eyes kept drifting back to the closed door. He was thinking about how different it would be leaving. Thinking about those two awful nights away when he thought he would never see Tom again. Then about how it would be like at the school: would Tom and him still share a room? Would they have other roommates? What if he decided Harry really wasn't good enough? What if they all decided he wasn't good enough? Would Harry still have his home here?

Tom slammed his book closed and glared at Harry, "I would prefer it if you would think quieter. You are acting like a dog who's been locked away and told they were bad. You will be just fine if no one tells you how wonderful you are until dinner. Now, I would suggest reading that book you seem determined to destroy."

Harry flinched at Tom's words, looked down at where his hands were creasing the pages and flinched again. He tried to smooth the wrinkles but couldn't. Eventually he just closed the book and grabbed another. He really was acting like a stupid little kid. He didn't need their attention all of the time. He was going to get spoiled like Dudley if he kept this up. Harry made a note to not eat too much at dinner tonight.

He flipped open the book by Emeric Switch instead and began reading the introduction. Eventually (he was less than a page in), Tom sighed.

"Don't go moping now. I didn't mean to snap, I'm just-."

Harry shook his head, "No, no, you were right. We need to focus, and I am being needy and no one likes a needy child. I need to read this now, I know you already finished this one."

"Harry, I-."

The little boy shrugged and made some small noise that cut off Tom's words. The taller boy watched as green eyes squinted over the page, not even a hand's distance away in order to make out the words. Harry really needed new glasses. He did okay with these until it came to reading but now…

Tom frowned as the boy sat still, his lips parting silently over every word. He hadn't meant to snap, but Harry said it was okay. So why was Tom still feeling that something was wrong, that he needed to change something. Perhaps if he tried to talk again…

Harry sighed this time, "Tom, it's hard to read with you staring at me."

And so the older boy turned his eyes down but he couldn't stop his eyes from flicking to the other boy. Looking much like the chastised dog he had accused Harry of resembling. Still the rest of the afternoon passed in silence until the clock tolled five. Even then the only sound was the shuffling of books back into their trunks and quiet sounds of their steps as they moved down the stairs for dinner.

It was when Harry's silence continued, despite a few comments from Tom that the older boy decided to drop it entirely. If Harry was going to be juvenile enough to hold one slip up against him then Tom could just wait for him to grow up. Harry would talk to him at some point and until he did Tom wouldn't say a word.

The Riddle boys settled at their table in their usual manner. Tom calmly pulling out his chair and settling down with his napkin on his lap, Harry flopping on the chair beside him before dropping it in his lap and only remembering to smooth it as an afterthought. That was when it started to go sideways.

Mrs. Cole and Jillian exchanged glances as they took in the way Harry had returned to his mild-mannered quiet self. Not to mention how Tom's attitude had some of the kids remembering why they had avoided him for ten years. They glanced at each other from their seats on opposite sides of the table and shook their heads. The boys were having their first real fight.

They could only hope that the orphanage would remain standing in the last few nights of their stay.

(0,0)

The good news was that the orphanage remained standing. The bad news was that Tom had turned all of his frustration on the younger boy. He kept hoping that Harry would talk to him and when the boy didn't, Tom lashed out.

The older boy laughed when Harry suddenly tripped. Had stood by, watching as Harry just silently gathered his books to head outside. He pushed Harry out of his way when he tried to go into the game room. He sneered at the boy whenever he opened his mouth to talk to anyone. Egging him on in his silence.

The staff had done their best to stop it but were worried that separating them would do more harm than good. All of the other kids seemed to be caught in the middle. They didn't dare ignore Harry, having been informed by the matrons that snubbing the little boy would result in alley clean-up duty and a loss of dessert privileges. But they also couldn't really fault Tom.

Most of the kids had tried daring Harry to do various things, in an attempt to open him up again. Like climb the tree Jason had broken his wrist falling out of last year. Like stealing something out of the kitchen. Like petting the feral dog that ran around the orphanage.

But it hadn't worked the way they had wanted.

Harry had climbed to the top of the tree, and back down. He had stolen a handful of biscuits, and then proceeded to refuse any at dinner. He had sat on the curb in front of the orphanage for hours, with scraps from the breakfast he had only picked at, until the terrifying and starving animal accepted the food and eventually allowed Harry to pet him. Harry had then led the dog to the pound where they promised to find him a loving home.

The children had accepted at that point that Harry wasn't going to be himself until he was once again Little Riddle. They only hoped that the two got it all straightened out before they came back.

(0,0)

Tom had been thinking hard about how to get to the station. His letter had come with a ticket onto the platform so they knew where to go but not how they would get there or where they were going afterwards. The answer came pretty quickly though.

There was a knock on their door downstairs, the boy's didn't pay much attention. Too busy pretending the other didn't exist while carefully moving around their room. Which was probably why they both perked up at the sound of their names.

"Good morning, dear. My name is Helena Hilliard, I'm a professor at Hogwarts, you see. I was sent to collect the Riddle boys. We wanted to make the transition for them as easy as possible."

The boys shared a quick look before grabbing their trunks and hurrying to the door. Harry opening it just in time for Tom to shove through. The smaller boy struggled out the door with his trunk, banging and scraping his knees and elbows in the process. He pulled the door shut behind him and spent a few long moments staring at the wood with a deep look in his eyes.

That was how Tom came back to find him. The older boy cleared his throat but Harry didn't even blink.

"Harry?"

The small boy swallowed and turned to Tom with a watery gaze and a trembling lip. The older boy didn't even think before opening his arms. Harry flung himself forward and wrapped his own arms around Tom's waist.

"Hey, it'll be okay. We're going to have a great time and we'll come back here this summer and it'll be just the same."

Harry shook his head, "Penelope will be adopted by then. Missy will be in her new home, too."

Tom shrugged, "That'll happen whether we're here or not, Harry. We need to go take care of ourselves."

The small boy didn't seemed reassured much-less comforted by that thought but he straightened nonetheless and reached for his trunk. Tom grabbed the other end and they made their way down the stairs.

(0,0)

Mrs. Cole had given them both quick hugs once they reached the entrance hall (Tom's face as the woman embraced him was purely shock), but after that they were left on their own as Penelope started to cry about Tom staying to read her a story and Harry promised to play dolls with her. Jimmy, the next youngest at six years old seemed terrified to see more children leaving with all of their things. His first memory of an adoption being Harry's failed attempt all those weeks ago, he was not eager for a repeat.

But Professor Hilliard was not all that impressed by the display and tapped her foot in some mockery of a rhythm. Harry and Tom were barely allowed to say their goodbyes and receive another hug, this one from Jillian, before they were ushered out the door and towards the alley.

Harry frowned, "Umm… Ma'am? There's no way out through there. The road has been blocked."

She nodded, "Which makes it quite perfect to start our journey don't you think?"

Harry didn't think but seeing Tom's firm shake of the head and pursed lips Harry realized he was being annoying again and he held his tongue.

"Right, hand over your trunks."

Both boys slid the trunks in front of them and watched openly as the woman swished her arm in some kind of backwards 'R' with a flick and whispered something under her breath. Harry felt his jaw drop open as his and Tom's things shrunk down to the size of a mouse.

"Now we really must hurry. We have two more children whom we are escorting. So hold tightly to my arms. Don't worry about hurting me. And close your eyes. Think only of the feel of my clothes under your hands."

Harry barely had a chance to nod before the woman spun on her heel and Harry felt himself yanked into the smallest space he'd ever felt with the two others. When they landed, Harry found his face on the ground and his glasses shattered on the ground. He stifled a mewl of disappointment and tucked the broken remains into his pocket. He squinted as he struggled to his feet wanting to know where on earth he was. It definitely did not sound like London any more…

He did his best to track onto the professor's shape as she walked… somewhere.

Eventually he heard the knock on the door, "Yes, good morning, Mrs. King, Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Johnson. I am quite glad that you were able to find each other. I am hoping that knowing there is another family going through a similar transition will be beneficial to you during your adjustment as well as your children's."

Harry guessed one of the women nodded, "Yes, and it is quite good of you to offer to escort them. I'm afraid the platform number had us quite confused."

The professor gave what Harry could only assume was an attempt at a compassionate smile. As she ushered their children out, albeit showing much more patience with the parental goodbyes than at the orphanage, Harry tried to take in the smaller forms that came out the door. They made it a little easier on him though. One was a girl who seemed to have obscenely-long dark hair, the other a boy with spiked blond hair.

With their goodbye's finished, the five of them made their way back the way Tom and Harry had come and were soon in yet another alley. Harry's stomach locked at the thought of doing that disappearing tube thing again.

"Alright, well apparating with two side-alongs is challenging but it's nearly impossible with four so this time I do believe it is safer that we use this portkey I was given. You will all now touch this book, a finger will suffice."

They all did although Harry felt dread pooling in his stomach.

"Right, now do try to land on your feet. Raven."

And before Harry could even think to ask what she meant he felt a hook behind his bellybutton and found himself spinning out of control with his finger inexplicably attached to the old book. There was absolutely no way he could have controlled his landing. He vaguely felt them slowing and could hear the woman calling for them to get ready but regardless he landed hard, face-first with a groan. The only consolation he had was that the other two were lying down as well.

Amazingly though, Tom had managed to remain standing alongside Professor Hilliard. He looked a little wobbly but other that than that he didn't seem to be in too bad of shape in Harry's admittedly blurry vision.

"Alright now, up, up. We have not got time to dither about. Your train leaves in less than a half-hour. Regardless of whether or not you four are on it or not."

The three on the ground hurried to stand and brush themselves off. Then they were hastened forward and their teacher frowned and started mumbling to herself about it being a good thing she was half-way decent with her shrinking charms. Eventually she stood in front of platform nine guided them around the various signs until they stood in front of one that seemed no different than any of the others.

"Perfect, now we've just enough time so onwards, children."

They all just stared at each other before blinking at the woman who seemed to collapse within herself, "I take it not a single one of you has chosen to read Hogwarts: A History?"

Harry shook his head, they hadn't been able to afford any extra books, much as Tom had wanted to read that one and every other book in the shop.

"Not a Raven in the bunch," she muttered before clearing her throat, "Right then, the entrance to the platform is magically hidden and only accessible by those with magic. As such you need to walk straight forward into the stone pillar in front of you."

Harry glanced at her with shock, "You want us to walk into a stone wall?"

She tsked, "No, I expect you to walk through the stone barrier. Understood?"

Harry bit his lip and could imagine Tom tilting his head to the side as he scrutinized the barrier. Eventually it was the only girl in their group who shook her hair out and stepped forward. She looked at the barrier and then glanced back at their teacher.

"I just walk forward? Like it is just an illusion?"

The teacher seemed to hesitate before giving a slight not, "It is similar to an illusion. Just walk forward and you will cross through onto the other side."

The girl nodded once; Harry watched as she pulled her long hair into a messy-bun before striding forwards with confidence. Then she was gone.

"Wonderful, who is next?"

Tom strode forward without waiting for acknowledgement and soon had disappeared as well. Harry felt the professor's eyes on him when neither he nor the other boy moved.

"Move it along, you two."

Harry swallowed and turned to the other boy, "It's wide enough, I bet we could go through together?"

He held out his hand and the blond smiled before accepting and under the impatient shoe tapping of the woman they strode forwards. Harry felt the boy beside him hesitate but refused to stop and gripped his hand tighter before stepping through, dragging the bigger boy with him.

There was a moment of silence where Harry assumed he was actually inside the wall before he was suddenly confronted by all of the noise that had been inside the muggle station. He staggered at the sudden noise but was comforted when he recognized to familiar blurs in front of them. They were eventually joined by their new professor who seemed anxious to be somewhere, anywhere, else.

"Quite. Now here are your things," She pulled out their trunks and set them down before a complicated wave had them full-size again, "You shall have to arrange your own transport home, and will have to travel with your trunks as normal. Follow the rest of the students. You must be sure to change into your robes before arrival at the school as you will not have time once you arrive. The train leaves in 20 minutes. Enjoy your ride."

She spun on her heel and was gone. It was the girl who spoke up next, "She seems… distracted."

Tom snorted, "She was downright rude. If all of the professors are like that it will be quite a long year."

The girl shrugged before gripping her trunk and dragging it forwards, "Should we all find a compartment together then?"

Harry smiled, liking the idea of having some new friends to start the trip and eagerly agreed. Tom seemed to acquiesce but assumed he would rather have gone to find some older students to answer some questions than sit with a bunch of kids who didn't have any more answers than he did.

Of course, they did not anticipate the struggle of finding a compartment with space for all four of them. The more compartment's they past the more worried Harry became. He really didn't want to end up sitting by themselves, but eventually the dark-haired girl found a space and grinned.

She paused just inside the door, "Do you mind if we join you? There's not a lot of empty space here…"

"Absolutely, please do. You must be some of the first years, correct?"

The four of them nodded and smiled as the older girl and her friend helped them to load their trunks into the waiting racks above the seats. Eventually they were all settled and an awkward silence threatened to consume them when the older girl spoke up.

"My name is Poppy, Poppy Pomfrey. I'm a fifth year Slytherin and a prefect this year. Which means that I should be able to help you with any problems that come up."

"And I'm Charlus Potter. I'm also a fifth year and a prefect, but I'm in Gryffindor."

The girl spoke up, "What are Slytherin and Gryffindor?"

"They're our houses," Poppy smiled at them, "There are four of them at Hogwarts. You'll get sorted into the house which best suits you and will allow you to grow and flourish."

"How are we sorted?" The Hufflepuff boy spoke up for the first time.

Pomfrey went to answer, but was cut off by Potter's hand on her own, "That's a surprise. But whatever house you're in you'll do fine."

"What do they mean? And what are the others called?" Tom spoke up.

The two shared a smile before turning back, "Well, Slytherin is for people who are cunning, we don't tend to wear our emotions on our sleeves, and our constantly looking for how to help ourselves and those closest to us."

"Gryffindor is for the courageous. We tend to throw ourselves into situations for others, without consideration for ourselves." He pointed to his chest where a small crest sat, "Which is why our symbol is a lion. We also tend to be rather loud."

Pomfrey laughed, "Quite. Well, the others are Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw is for those who prefer knowledge and wisdom, they tend to always have a book and get good grades. Though not always, I've been told often that book-smart does not equate intelligence. Hufflepuff is generally for those who are completely loyal, kind, and loving. They also tend to be the house where everyone who does not quite fit into the other houses are placed. Because they are so accepting."

The girl nodded, "What are the symbols?"

Potter smiled, "Well, each house has an animal attached to it. They represent our biggest qualities. For example: Slytherin is a snake, silent until it is ready to strike. They can slip in and out and is undoubtedly powerful, and hard to grasp. Gryffindor's lion is powerful, courageous, and hard to miss. They proudly show their claws and are willing to stand up for what's right."

Pomfrey cut in, "And they are lazy until inspired."

Potter gave her a wry smirk, "Hmmm… well, I like to think of it as selectively energetic but…"

Pomfrey rolled her eyes, "Ravenclaw is a raven, it symbolizes a moment to stop and think about what is happening. A chance to observe everything and learn."

"They also have a fascination with hair and shiny things."

Pomfrey smacked Potter with the back of her hand, "Hush you. The last house, Hufflepuff, is symbolized by a honey badger. At first glance they don't seem very threatening. However as calm as the honey badger can be, only hunting what it needs, other predators leave it alone. Honey badgers will fight until the death and have been known to defeat lions, cheetahs, and snakes in a fight. They stay with their young for well over a year showing loyalty. So basically, they are a fierce surprise."

The kids nodded.

Potter grinned, "We have to head up to the prefect's carriage, but we'll be back. First however, I'd like to know your names."

Harry felt himself blush, "I'm Harry Riddle."

The girl spoke up, "I'm Juliana King, I go by Anna."

"I'm Maxwell Johnson, but I prefer Max." was the other boy's response.

"Tom Riddle."

Potter blinked and looked between the two of them, "Are you two brothers then? Twins?"

Harry shook his head, "Tom's my best friend."

The older boy blinked but seemed to let it go as something to be explored later, "Very well then, we'll see you in an hour or so, Poppy?"

The older girl stood as well. Harry and the three other boys rose alongside her, but he winced as his broken glasses cut into his leg.

"Riddle? Are you okay?"

Harry blinked, "It's just Harry, please. And I'm okay, just have a cut on my leg."

Pomfrey frowned, "You should go to the hospital wing when we get to school, after the feast. Cuts can be a big problem and they're easy to fix so I'd just go get it dealt with."

Harry nodded shyly and tucked his face down.

Eventually the door to their carriage closed and Harry let his eyes fall closed too. It had been a long morning so far and it wasn't like he had slept well the last few nights. So he didn't even think of how the voices were fading behind the soothing noise of the train and how everything seemed so peaceful until long after he had fallen asleep.

(0,0)

Harry was woken up by a familiar voice, "Harry, we need to get changed now."

Green eyes opened with a blink and he shifted to rub his eyes, not entirely certain where he was. He reached for his glasses only to nearly fall off the seat. That was when he remembered with a smile. They were going to Hogwarts.

He immediately stood and was beyond thankful when Tom shoved the robes into his arms. He didn't think he would be able to find them in his trunk with the way he was seeing right now. He managed to struggle into his robes much to the amusement of Potter who laughed and helped him get straightened out right.

"You remind me of my cousin Fleamont. He couldn't get his robes on properly if you paid him. Always knocks his glasses off in the process. And he's nearly thirty now."

Harry felt himself blushing but thanked the older boy for his help.

"Alright, we should be there in about 10 minutes. I'd pack up anything you don't want at the feast, the house elves will deal with your trunks. And finish up that candy if you don't want it to get melted before you can eat it."

Harry blinked, when had they gotten candy? But smiled in thanks when Anna stuffed a small box in his hands.

"What are these?"

"Bertie Bott's, I think that's what they said. They're like jellybeans but some of the flavors are really gross."

Harry popped one in his mouth, biting into it before gagging, "Oh my God!"

Anna and Max giggled, "What did you get?"

Harry forced it down before attempting to scrape the taste off with his teeth, "I don't know! But it tasted like vomit."

Anna gave what Harry supposed was a sympathetic smile, "Yeah, that's one of the flavors."

Harry handed the box back and they all took turns swallowing one of the disgusting beans until they heard a yell from one of the other compartments.

"Look! There it is!"

They all scrambled to the window where they saw the very tips of stone towers before they disappeared behind the hills and trees.

Harry frowned, "I want to see the castle…"

Anna gave him a look, "What do you mean? We'll all see it soon, I'm sure."

He shook his head, "No, I accidently broke my glasses, I can barely see your face. I'll miss the castle entirely. I don't even know when I can get a new pair here… This is going to be impossible."

Anna grabbed his hand, "Let's ask someone. Maybe there's a place in the town where we're getting dropped off. They won't be perfect, but it'll be something."

Harry smiled at her and sensed Tom's nod even as Max came up to squeeze his other hand. Anna grinned as the train suddenly jerked to a stop. Dragging them out with an excited laugh, Tom meandering after them.

Max was the first one to spot Pomfrey. Pointing her out with a grin and starting towards her. But it surprised no one when Anna started to call out to the prefect.

"Miss Pomfrey, Miss Pomfrey!"

The fifteen-year-old turned at her name and smiled at the little ones, "Hey there. You guys are supposed to be heading over to Ogg so he can lead you guys in on the boats!"

Harry turned to do just that but Anna held fast to his hand, "Harry needs new glasses first! He can't see the castle like this and that would be so sad!"

Pomfrey nodded, "Quite, what happened to your old ones, Harry?"

The boy reached into his pocket and pulled out the pieces, cutting his finger. Pomfrey frowned.

"I assume this is where the cut on your leg came from, too?"

Harry nodded.

"Silly boy, you should have mentioned it. This is an easy fix. Though I do suggest going to the mediwitch to get it sorted."

She pulled out her wand and held it carefully over the glasses.

"Reparo!"

Harry and Anna gasped as the frames mended and the glass sealed itself before jumping into place.

"There you are. Now mind you, I would suggest still going to the Matron about these. You'll likely still need new ones."

Harry gave her a hug before having Max and Anna drag him off towards where a grouchy old man was calling for all of the first years.

(0,0)

The ride in the boats had been amazing (albeit a little chilly) and the waiting had been horrible (as had been the less than heartening speech by Professor Hilliard) but finally the doors had opened and the first years had huddled together before scooching into the room in a herd.

"When I call your name, come forward. I will place this hat on your head and you shall be put into your house."

And so it began. Professor Hilliard calling the students forward one at a time to be sorted.

"Abbot, Amelia."

Harry was shocked along with a good number of the other students when the rip at the brim of the hat opened, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Avery, Kenelm."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Diggory, Weston."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Fawcett, Johnathon."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Haywood, Eleanor."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Johnson, Maxwell."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"King, Julianna."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Lestrange, Recardo."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Lovegood, Trentyn."

"RAVENCLAW!"

It was all going so fast! There was no one Harry wanted to be with, except Tom. Maybe the kids from the train but they were already in different houses. And Harry just knew he was going to be sorted before Tom. Harry knew he missed some of the names as his thoughts ran rampant.

"Prince, Eileen."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Pod…" Hilliard stopped leaning closer as if to decipher the name, "Riddle, Harry."

Harry's breath caught in his throat as he slowly, carefully, made his way up the steps and settled on the chair. The hat sat on his head, and as with so many of the other students, it fell almost instantly over his eyes. However, unlike the other students it seemed to hesitate.

"My, my, my… what have we here? You are definitely a unique case here."

Harry blinked, thinking carefully to himself, what is going on here?

"Ah, yes, you wouldn't remember. Quite a clever thing your magic. An eleven-year-old with such knowledge, but what a gift to be able to relive one's youth, definitely a difficult path you have chosen. Of course, you have no idea what I am speaking about and without the magic from before. Without your youth and influence why I believe I know just where I can put you. It'll likely help you with your mission. As well…"

"What mission?"

He could feel the hat smirking, "Ah, but that would be telling…"

And the next sound reverberated throughout his mind and the great hall.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

He rushed down from under the curious eyes of the crowd and searched for the familiar brown eyes. Tom gave what Harry knew passed for a smile but was not able to do more when his own name rang through the hall.

"Riddle, Tom."

Harry held his breath but couldn't hold onto his hope. Hufflepuffs were open, loving, loyal, but Tom… Tom was loyal, but he did it in secret. He kept to himself and used his power to earn his status. Harry had been the only one not really intimidated by Tom. At least not anymore than he had been intimidated by everyone. Harry had been different, intriguing.

The boy sat on the stool and the hat dropped onto his head, rip opening almost instantly. With a sigh Harry accepted his fate, there was no doubt in his mind that Tom would be a-.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Harry joined the quiet, polite clapping of the Slytherin's and tried not to be hurt when Tom didn't even look his way.

"Rosier, Druella."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Rosier, Vinda."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Sanders, Viola."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Turpin, Elizabeth."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Zabini, Keagan."

"SLYTHERIN!"

And so it was done. There was a song, a part of Harry amazed as the hat began to sing. And the wizened old man sitting between Professor's Hilliard and Dumbledore led them all through the school song, the lyrics written out by a long ribbon. But even the magic of more food then Harry had ever seen, appearing on the table could not capture Harry's attention.

All he could do was look over at the Slytherin table and hope that eventually Tom would look up to meet his gaze.

Eventually the feast ended and the students were warned to stay away from the Forbidden Forest (why would they bother, anything named Forbidden was sure to attract a lot of student attention) and then told to follow their prefects to their new home.

Harry listened as the older boy told them the rules and expectations. Before being shown how to get into their common room, apparently you had to touch the portrait's hand and ask for permission to enter, and being directed to the dorms which he would be sharing with all of the other kids in his year and house. Harry barely said hello to the other kids before climbing into the yellow bed and shutting his curtains. He spent the next hour wishing he could hear the quiet sound of Tom turning the pages as he finally, fitfully, fell asleep.

Okay… I'll admit, not my best chapter, but I wanted to get it out to you all and there was a lot of researching that needed to be done. I wanted to keep ages as close to cannon as possible (did you guys know that Armando Dippet was already 200 years old by this point? Yikes, right?). So I wanted to make sure no characters appeared who already had children by this point or whatever. Lot's of clicking and reading. But now that I have most of the characters all picked it should go a lot faster.

Sorry I couldn't put them together but… Tom couldn't be a Hufflepuff or Gryffindor and Harry couldn't be a Slytherin or a Ravenclaw so… drama! Thanks for everything you guys! Follow me on my facebook page to get notes about when I'm updating and see some cute artwork!