As far as anyone had ever been concerned, the Hogwarts express always left on September 1. It had never been any different, even if the day in question was in the middle of the week. This is where Tom Riddles thoughts lay as he woke up, going over the events of the previous date. It was now September 2, a Friday. Which meant that today would be the first day of classes and then the start of the weekend..
Tom saw that is was about seven o'clock and classes did not start till 9. He had always been an early riser.
He got out of bed and gathered his clothing to go take a shower. He looked around at his other companions and saw all the curtains still closed meaning that he was the first one up. Not that it had ever been any different. Tom was used to waking up early at the orphanage. Ever since first year he had always gotten up earlier than any of his classmates. Usually after his shower, he would head down to the table, the first one in the hall, and eat breakfast while reading a book. But it wasn't as if he did these actions for nothing as he was able to observe everyone's actions from beginning to end like this.
Tom had finished with his shower and walked across the room to his trunk to get his clothes. Therefore, there was only a towel wrapped around his waste. As he walked through the room to, he noticed that his roommates were still asleep, even the new kids. No one made a sound. Tom internally smiled, the new kids aren't early risers. That information could be valuable later. Tom was just about to put his clothes on when he heard the door slam open. The second time in the last 24 hours.
Seeing how familiar this situation was from last night, Tom didn't hesitate. He knew who it was. He was quite a little put off. No one had ever woken up before him.
There standing in the door way, wide awake, with a book under her arms was Hermione Peverell. She was wearing her Hogwarts Robes with a emerald green blouse that showed only a little at the top and she looked just as stunning as the day before although her hair was in a messy but cute ponytail. As she slammed open the door, some of the boys immediately started stirring. But the Peverelll boys, again, made no sound.
Hermione walked in, glanced over Tom, who was the only occupant in the room she could see. She didn't even stare at his bare chest, a thing that would have most girls swooning for. Something that bothered Tom more than it should.
Hermione headed over to Draco, Ron, and Harry's bed. Before opening their curtains she said "Boys. I swear. They always sleep in late." With those words, Hermione transfigured 3 buckets of water and simultaneously poured it onto Draco, Harry, and Ron's bed.
It had an immediate effect, and the boys jumped up and gasped. Then understanding washed over the three boys and they all rushed behind Draco's bed.
"Hermione!" the three boys said in surprised unison.
"You three should know better. . . " Hermione stated walking towards. The boys slightly cowered as Hermione continued, "This happens EVERY morning". Upon seeing the boys huddled, almost onto Draco's wet bed, Hermione seemed rather satisfied. She took a step towards the door, her back to the boys and heard a rush of feet as the boys immediately started heading towards the bathroom. Completely satisfied, Hermione brushed passed Tom without a glance and headed out the door.
No one in the room had stirred besides the Peverell boys and Tom.
Tom quickly put on his clothes and robes and glanced in the mirror. He straightened his clothes and hair to perfection and then proceeded to grab his bag and headed to the Great Hall.
Once he reached the Great Hall he noticed that there were only one or two Ravenclaws and only one Slytherin there. He walked over towards the Slytherin table and sat at his usual spot in the middle of the far end of the table. As he took his spot, he noticed that Hermione was sitting close by reading Hogwarts: A History, not too close, but close enough.
Tom again couldn't help think about the mysterious traveller's. There arrival was so random and the power they wielded was amazing. Then again, they are Peverell's. Not only that, but last night. This girl didn't even fear him. She even bruised him, and Tom glanced at his arm which would have had a bruise had the girl not healed it. Then Tom's thoughts took a new turn. He hated this girl. This girl would never side with him. He needed to teach her a lesson.
Hermione knew he was staring at her. So she said the most obnoxious thing she could.
"I know I'm pretty, but you should take a picture. It would last longer". She didn't have to look away from her book to know that Tom had just blanched.
Internal count: Hermione 2 and Tom 0.
Tom was about to speak when Hermione heard the familiar steps of three boys approaching. She closed her book which was really Blood Ceremonies disguised as Hogwarts: A History. And looked at the end of the table to see her approaching cousins all of which had looks of distaste on their faces.
Tom was startled but remained composed of the sudden appearances and was curious to know why the Peverall boys looked so distraught. Tom looked over at Hermione and saw a similar curious look before understanding settled on her. As the boys seated themselves around Hermione, she couldn't help but ask, "So what girls were trying to hit on you?"
The boys frowned as Hermione's grin grew.
"I think an easier question would be what girls weren't," said Draco as he started to grab food along with Ron and Harry. Hermione had already eaten, evident by her empty plate with toast remains.
"Why don't people ever leave me alone", added Harry, Tom looked at Harry curiously and his eyes caught on Harry's lighting bolt scar on his forehead. That had to have taken something very strong and powerful to make a scar like that. What did he mean that people could never leave him alone? Hm. So many questions that needed answering.
"One word: Sirius", stated Ron looking a little pale. Hermione, however, got the message and couldn't contain a laugh. Ron's eyes narrowed on her while Draco and Harry just looked a little sick. So Sirius' mom, Augusta Black had hit on them. Probably in the common room. If only she knew who they really were-
"Wait a second guys", and Draco, Ron, Harry, and Tom, who had been observing the conversation close by not noticing the table beginning to fill up ever so slightly, looked at Hermione, "i just realised. Those girls I'm rooming with, Parkinson, Black, Zabini and I believe there is one more girl I have yet to meet, but anyway, I just left last night."
The boys didn't understand what Hermione was trying to convey and gave her a questioning look.
"Where do they think I slept last night. . . " added Hermione. The boys looked at Hermione, before looking at each other, and then gazing back at Hermione all with identical smirks on their faces. Hermione frowned. It was never a good sign when the guys all looked like that. She was about to question them when she was interrupted by the three girls in question she had just mentioned; they sat in the space between Hermione and Tom.
"Peverell, we never introduced ourselves last night. I'm Augusta Black," stated the woman they had recognized before as Sirius' Mother. She had black hair that went down to the middle of her back, along with all too familiar grey eyes. However, the eyes were filled with more darkness as opposed to Sirius'. All together she resembled her future, heavier and portrait self ever so slightly, but with more youth. However, the cocky tone of voice resembled that of her portrait, and there was no doubt that this lady would one day marry her cousin, support the death eaters, and condemn mudbloods.
Hermione shook her hand and was introduced to Lucy Parkinson and Solace Zabini. The first had blond hair and very much resembled a pug, no doubt Pansy Parkinson's future grandmother. The latter was beautiful with very dark eyes, black with match black hair that ran long but pretty with curls. She was very pretty, but the look in her eyes showed that she knew this. Self- conceit never seemed so obvious.
As they sat down, Parkinson asked, "So Hermione, where did you disappear off too last night. Otherwise we could have met last night." with a gleam in her eye.
"I slept in the boys dorm," replied Hermione casually. Parkinson's eyes went hard, she was not expecting this answer. Apparently she had a thing for Riddle.
"What the hell were you doing in there?" Parkinson almost yelled, aware that she was catching the attention of members from a few of the other tables. The whole Slytherin table had stayed true to their colors and had been paying attention to the conversation from the very beginning, although they looked as though they were not.
"Couldn't sleep" Hermione replied matter of factly although inside she was flustered. It just really wasn't any of their business. She looked up to her cousins only to see their grins as they knew without a doubt that although her voice betrayed no emotion, she was getting annoyed.
"So you did not go to sleep last night AND you were in the boys bedroom. You who-," Lucy Parkinson yell was interrupted by a cool male voice.
"Stop acting like a Gryffindor and start acting like a Slytherin, Parkinson," drawled Tom cooly as he read his novel. Although his full attention was on the conversation before him, there was no need to show it.
This caused Lucy to sit a little red in her chair, as Hermione looked as though she didn't really care. At this moment, the owls came in to deliver the morning mail. One owl in particular caught everyone in the Great Hall's eyes. It wasn't so much an owl as it was a majestic eagle, one that was jet black with silver eyes.
Hermione looked expectantly at the owls, as Harry, Ron and Draco flashed her confused looks. They had only been in this time for less than a day, how could she be expecting an owl? They should not have been surprised when the majestic eagle landed in front of Hermione, all eyes on her of course. Hermione pocketed the letter the eagle offered her, quickly. Then offered the bird the remains of her toast before it flew away. It took a while for the students to stop staring.
"Who was the letter from," Augusta demanded, knowing that the owner of such an owl had to be someone noteworthy. Hermione made her face void of emotion and just continued to look around with no interest, ignoring Augusta. Leading Augusta, Lucy, and Solace to storm away towards the other end of the table.
The other Slytherins, as well as the rest of Hogwarts, were also curious. Didn't these students just arrive in London? Who wrote the letter. Little did they know that Draco, Harry, and Ron were wondering the same exact thing.
"Did I do something wrong," Hermione questioned innocently aloud. This caused Harry, Draco, and Ron to laugh while a few Slytherins smiled at them. One such was Alphard Black, who took it upon himself to move closer to the transfer students upon the leaving of the Slytherin girls.
"I'm Alphard Black," he introduced himself to Harry, Ron, Draco, and Hermione with a large smile and grey eyes filled with happiness. These eyes were all too familiar. This was Sirius' Uncle, the one who had been a mentor and father like figure to Sirius. "Ignore them, they are just jealous. A prominent Slytherin trait I assure you. But I promise we all aren't that bad. Or ugly. . . "
The group was full of laughter again, causing even more Slytherins to smile. The other house tables were surprised, for the first time in a very long time, the Slytherin table didn't seem so subdued.
This cause Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco to grin. They knew that Alphard would be a friend, an ally.
Horace Slughorn proceeded down the Slytherin table to pass out time tables. He approached Hermione, Harry, Draco, and Ron as a group.
"Welcome to the best house Hogwarts has to offer. I'm your head of house, Professor Slughorn. I couldn't help but notice how amazing your OWL scores are. I want to extend to you an offer to join a little club of mine that gets together a few times a month. You Peverell's, especially, will make a fine addition to the group of students I have. What do you say?" the Professor finished with a large smile and eyes gleaming.
Hermione, Draco, Ron, and Harry stared at the professor until his large smile dropped slightly. "Sir, we are new to this school. We have just relocated to London and we have to take care of stuff and settle down before we can join any clubs. I'm sorry to say any type of club would hinder our actions, maybe next year," said Harry.
Before the professor could answer, Draco added "Professor, our timetables if you will." Allowing Slughorn to realize that he had yet to finish his task and he grudgingly handed them their timetables and continued down the table.
"How many OWLs did you guys get?" asked Alphard curiously. And surprisingly they answered honestly, aware that once again, all Slythering eyes and ears were awaiting their answers.
"Ten", replied Draco sadly.
"Ten", replied Ron, and like Draco was a little sad.
"Ten", replied Harry, joining his cousins, he too seemed sad.
Alphard was shocked, as well as the rest of the Slytherin table. They knew that these new students would be good at their studies, but so good as to receive ten Owls? It almost matched up to Tom Riddle's eleven OWL's. Tom Riddle was a little annoyed at this fact, but took pride on the knowledge that he had beaten their scores. But wait . . . why did they look almost disappointed.
Noticing their expressions, Alphard asked, "What's so wrong with those scores? They are bloody brilliant."
"Twelve", replied Hermione in the deathly silence that had engulfed the Slytherin table as they awaited for an answer from the Peverell boys. Eyes turned towards her. This girl had beaten Tom Riddle, receiving the highest scores in the century.
Draco, Ron, and Harry looked at Hermione before their frowns slowly turned into grins.
"Betting time Hermione dear!", Harry stated which immediately turned said witches face into brief smile. "Later", Hermione said towards Harry. Any bet that Harry or any of the boys made, were just not ready for the public eye.
With a quick glance of the clock, everyone began getting ready to go to their first class. Slytherin seventh years would be having double defense against the dark arts with the Gryffindors today.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco were getting up when Riddle approached them. "I can show you to your classes since you don't know your way through the halls yet," remarked Riddle while eyeing a certain brown-haired girl. Obviously, he hadn't forgotten what happened last night.
The Pervell cousins, not wanting to show their familiarity of Hogwarts, followed Tom Riddle to Defense Against the Dark Arts, interested to see who the teacher would be.
As they entered the classroom, in what was the DA classroom of their time, Draco and Ron sat together while Hermione and Harry sat in the table behind them in near the front of the classroom.
The other students gathered in the class and settled in, Riddle and Abraxus Malfoy sat behind Hermione and Harry. Probably trying to keep an eye on him, Hermione thought.
Suddenly, a man stepped out from the teacher's office. He looked a little familiar. With grey eyes and a silver tint to his brown hair that reminded the quartet of a Werewolf they once knew. His eyes held mirth like a marauder, but his robes looked knew and though fairly old, he seemed to have some scars or and little stress lines probably from the war with Grindewald. Hermione came to the quick conclusion that this must be someone from the Lupin pureblood family before the family had been wiped out by Voldemort in the first war. If this teacher was as good as Lupin, then maybe this class would be pretty fun.
"Welcome to seventh Year Defense Against the Dark Arts" said the professor. "I noticed we have some new students so I'll formally introduce myself. My name is Johnathan Lupin and this is my 5th year as a Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher at Hogwarts. Before that I was an Arour fighting against Grindewald's forces until I was injured and forced to retire early."
He smiled at the new students with a recognizable look in his eye "that was some amazing work you four did last night" and turned to the board.
Ron and Draco turned to Hermione and Harry, all four giving each other a significant look in the eye.
Yes, another potential person they could trust.
Riddle closed his eyes briefly; he saw their look to each other. They seemed at ease when they saw the professor. There was something wrong with these new kids. There had to be.
Professor Lupin waved his wand toward the board and one name appeared " Gellert Grindewald".
"Now class, I decided that we'll start the lesson I had planned for you in a little bit, But first, I wanted to get a chance to talk to you about last nights attack. Are there any questions?"
The room was silent at everyone glanced and openly gawked at Hermione, Harry, Ron and Draco. Hermione glared at the three boys as they all three smirked when this happened and she started to glare daggers when every girl in the room sighed at their was hoping they wouldn't do anything stupid. But from the look on their face, they were about too.
Ron, Draco and Harry raised their hands and Hermione groaned.
"Yes, Mr Pervell" the Professor said, nodding to Harry. Draco and Ron sighed, they wanted to ask the question first.
Harry looked at his professor with the most serious face,
"Why do all Dark Lords act like idiots? I mean, if I was a Dark Lord, I'd give myself a better name, first of all." he said, Hermione took a deep breath. Way to be discreet Harry.
"And giving really long speeches allowing their enemy enough time to prepare for their fight? He should have just tied us up rather than talked us to death," chimed in Ron. Hermione wanted to hurt Ron, she hoped Draco had the sense to not say anything stupid. But, of course, it was wishful thinking.
"And their followers. Why are they always so dull? If I was a Dark Lord, I might give them a nickname and dress them up in black robes, maybe brand them with a tattoos," added Draco as Harry and Ron snickered. Hermione couldn't be mad, Draco's comment was the icing on the cake and she couldn't help but smile.
Tom Riddle narrowed his eyes. He already had a nickname for himself, and yeah, he gave speeches sometimes; also, he had given his followers a title and he had just finished sketching the dark mark. Did these people know something? No, they couldn't. Grindewald did sound like a horrible name and he did talk a lot last night rather than focus on the attack. His followers also had that triangle circle stick symbol if he remembered correctly. They were just making fun of Grindewald.
The professor laughed at the three boys mocking the Dark Lord. They deserved the right to do so after their astounding victory last night. The rest of the students, however, were astounded. The Gryffindor's could not believe that students from the dark house were mocking the dark lord while the Slytherin's were disappointed by the obvious blatant stupidity of Grindewald's attack.
"Alright", he said, silencing the boys as they tried to compose themselves. "If no one has any serious questions before we begin out lesson, I have a quick question for the Peverell's. That is if they will allow it." He said, eyeing the four cousins.
Draco, Ron and Hermione looked at Harry who nodded to the teacher.
Lupin tried to word it in the best way possible, but it came out just as blunt. "How did you wandlessly defeat Grindewald's forces last night?"
Hermione, knowing this question would come up by someone, though not expecting it from a teacher, already had a rehearsed explanation ready. She looked at Harry quickly,silencing him before he could say anything stupid. For some reason, he seemed in a happy mood today. All the boy's did.
"Well Professor. As you know, we have just fled to Britain after the war ravaged Eastern Europe Growing up around the war,we have all been trained to protect ourselves and each other. Professor, as an Auror, you have seen how bad this war is and what it did to families. Imagine what it did to us. We don't feel the need to re-live these memories or remember all that we have lost so please don't ask us to explain anymore. We saw the students in danger and it was almost a reflex to protect the place they call home after losing our own," Hermione said making it look like her eyes were tearing up. Draco was looking at Hermione and commending her. This sob story would be around school by the next class and no one would bother them. Harry, playing the role as brother, rubbed her arm and took over. Slightly glaring at the professor
"As for the wandless magic, professor, it's quite simple. We are Perevell's, I think everyone in this classroom should know what that means."
And then the class was silent as everyone mulled this over in their own thoughts. They all knew what that meant. The Peverell's weren't just an ancient family. They were the ancient family. Rumor had it that all magical families descended from the Peverell family. Merlin himself was said to be a descendant of their bloodline. One could only wonder what abilities and powers these kids had. It had been centuries since the last Peverell's had been heard from, relocating in a part of Europe to live their own magical lives without interference. There were many rumors and mysteries surrounding the family that had virtually disappeared.
The Professor was the first person to snap out of his thoughts. Well, since it's the first day, we'll postpone our lesson to Monday and I'll let everyone out early. Have a good weekend.
Everyone got up and left the classroom. Tom saw the Peverell's stay in their seats while he slowly got up and left with Avery and Nott to the common room. They had a free period before double potions with the Gryffindors. It was at the threshold of the doorway when he saw Alphard black approach Peverell's, say something that made them laugh and walk away. Tom left the classroom curious about what they were all laughing about.
