Chapter Four – Arrival at Hogwarts
The morning of September 1st saw blazing sunshine over Kings Cross station. People swarmed around outside, loading and unloading trolleys, queuing for an ageing parking meter and rushing into the station to catch trains they were already too late for. In the middle of the pandemonium, a man and boy strode confidently into the station, pulling a large trunk. Matthew and Tom Riddle swept through the station at a brisk pace, ignoring the commotion around them. When they reached Platform 9 they walked over to the barrier separating the platform from Platform 10. Leaning casually against the barrier, they melted through it and emerged in front of a scarlet steam engine.
Matthew couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as he gazed at the Hogwarts Express. This was what he had been waiting for for as long as he could remember. Voldemort's hand rested on his shoulder and guided him to one of the carriages. The Dark Lord took out his wand and levitated the trunk into the carriage, before guiding it into an empty compartment. Once safely stowed, they exited the train and waited on the platform, neither saying a word. Matthew's gaze wandered over the platform, taking in all the sights. A few feet away, a boy was holding a large box, from which a long hairy leg could be seen just poking out the top. Not far away from them, a girl with bushy brown hair was saying goodbye to her parents. As he turned his head, he saw three boys whom he recognised from the family they ran into in Diagon Alley emerge onto the platform, followed by the boy from Madam Malkins.
"There they are."
Matthew looked up at the sound of his father's voice. Sure enough, walking along the platform toward them were the Malfoy family, Lucius levitating a trunk in front of them, not seeming to particularly care if he knocked passersby with it. As they drew nearer, Draco raised a hand in greeting, which Matthew returned.
"Morning," Draco said, as he came level with Matthew and Voldemort.
"Likewise," Matthew said. "This is it. Stage 2 of the plan is about to commence."
"Indeed, though it's a very long stage." Draco said, glancing at Voldemort, who smiled slightly.
"Subtlety is the key here, Draco. This time, the takeover is a marathon, not a sprint. We work slowly, people don't realise we're in control until it's too late."
Draco nodded his head.
"Of course, My Lord."
Lucius looked up at the large clock overhead.
"You've only got a couple of minutes. I suggest you both get on."
Draco briefly hugged his mother and jumped into the carriage. Before Matthew could follow, however, Voldemort pulled him aside.
"Do you have the mirror?"
"Yes, father."
"Good. Remember everything I've told you. How you get Potter to go after the Stone is up to you, but remember: don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself."
"I won't. I already have a good idea of how I'm going to do it."
"I would be disappointed in you if you didn't. Good luck, and I'll see you at Christmas."
Voldemort gripped Matthew's shoulder for a moment, before letting go. Matthew nodded at Lucius and Narcissa before hopping onto the train. He pulled the door closed after him, and strode into the compartment he had placed his trunk in.
Draco was already there, accompanied by three other people, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson. He greeted all of them before lowering himself into a seat. They made small talk for a few minutes before the compartment door slid open. Standing there, already wearing her Hogwarts robes, was the girl with bushy hair Matthew had seen on the platform.
Rather keen, isn't she? Matthew thought to himself as he looked at her. Everyone else in the compartment was looking at her with unreadable expressions on their faces. The girl coughed slightly.
"Do you mind if I sit there?" she asked, gesturing at the seat opposite Matthew. "Everywhere else is full."
She didn't seem to notice the looks she was getting from everyone. Matthew, however, stood up.
"Sure, take a seat."
Draco gave him an odd look, but Matthew shook his head almost imperceptibly. The girl, missing the exchange between the two boys, smiled at Matthew and sat down in the only empty seat. Matthew offered his hand toward her.
"Matthew Riddle."
The girl smiled again, shaking his hand. On closer inspection, he could see that her front teeth were unusually large.
"Hermione Granger."
"Granger?" Draco said, looking at her properly for the first time. "I don't recognise the name. Are your parents wizards?"
"No, I'm the first in my family." Hermione said. "It was such a surprise when I got my letter. I've already learnt all our set books off by heart." She seemed to not register the stunned looks everyone was now giving her. Matthew smiled slightly. A lot of potential there. Just a shame she's Muggle-born. Although...
"I see." Draco said, with a meaningful glance at Matthew. "My name's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. That's Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson." He gestured at the other three occupants of the compartment. Hermione smiled at them all. None of them returned one.
"So, you've learnt all the set books?" Matthew asked. "Sounds like a Ravenclaw all over."
Hermione's eyes lit up.
"Ooh! I know, it sounds like a great house to be in!" she exclaimed, earning her another odd look from Draco.
Matthew smiled again. "Wouldn't be bad at all. However, we're all pretty sure we'll be in Slytherin."
Hermione looked confused.
"No one knows until they get there. How can you be so sure?"
"All our families have been in Slytherin. Doesn't make it a cert, but that's what usually happens."
Just then, the compartment door slid open again. Standing there was a round-faced boy, who looked on the verge of tears.
"H-have any of you seen a toad? I've lost mine."
Draco snorted slightly. Hermione looked at the round-faced boy in sympathy.
"No, sorry. Do you want me to help you find him?"
"Y-yes, please." the boy whimpered. Hermione stood up and made her way to the compartment door. Just before she reached it, she turned around.
"Maybe I'll see you later in the journey. If not, I'll see you all when we get there."
"Absolutely," Matthew said. Hermione turned and walked out of the compartment, closely followed by Neville.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Draco rounded on Matthew.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Matthew didn't seem perturbed at all.
"My father told me to scout people we could turn to the Dark. I have a feeling she could be very useful."
"But she's Muggle-born!"
"Doesn't matter. I'm sending a letter to my father tonight. I'll ask him about his stance on Muggle-borns then."
"But..."
"But nothing, Draco." Matthew said standing up.
"Where are you going?" Pansy asked, as he made his way to the door.
"Harry Potter is starting Hogwarts this year as well. That means he's somewhere on this train. Therefore, I think I should go...introduce myself." He pulled open the door and vanished from sight. Draco flopped back into his chair.
Unbelievable.
-x-x-x-x-x-
After wandering from one end of the train to the other without finding Harry, Matthew only had one compartment left to search. He pulled the door open to see two boys sat inside, a large pile of sweets next to them. One had flaming red hair, who he immediately recognised as a Weasley. The other boy, however, was the same boy he had met in Madam Malkins. That must be him.
Striding confidently into the compartment, he took a seat and looked at both boys.
"What do you want?" the red haired boy asked, rather rudely, in Matthew's opinion.
"You must be Harry." Matthew said, ignoring the Weasley and extending his hand to Harry.
Harry didn't shake it. He looked at Matthew warily.
"I am. And you are?"
"My apologies. My name is Matthew Riddle. And I'm assuming you," he said to the red haired boy, "must be a Weasley."
"Ron." Ron grunted, still eyeing Matthew with suspicion. Matthew gave him a condescending look before returning his attention to Harry.
"You want to be careful mixing with people like the Weasleys, Potter." he said, ignoring Ron's noise of outrage. "You don't want to go mixing with the wrong sort." He stood up again, pulling the door open. He walked through it, but before he left, he turned back around. "Just a suggestion." With a smirk at the look on Ron's face, he let the door slide shut. Turning on his heel, he strode back down the train.
-x-x-x-x-x-
Several hours later, an announcement rang through the train.
"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately."
The five soon-to-be first years stood up and crammed the pockets of their robes with the last of the sweets they had bought as the train slowly ground to a halt. They joined the crowd thronging the corridor and eventually made it out onto the platform. In the distance, he could see a large mountain. Over the din of the students, he heard a voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over 'ere! Alrigh' there, 'Arry?"
He looked over and saw a large man carrying a lantern. This, he assumed, was Rubeus Hagrid, the man his father had framed for opening the Chamber of Secrets 49 years ago. He, Draco, and the rest of the occupants of their compartment swaggered over to Hagrid.
"Ev'ryone 'ere?" Hagrid called out. "Righ'. Follow me."
He set off down a long winding path, all the first years hurrying to keep up. Eventually he led them to a fleet of small boats on the edge of a large, black lake.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid said, settling into a boat at the front of the group. He, Draco and Pansy were joined in their boat by Hermione, while Crabbe and Goyle shared a boat with two boys Matthew vaguely recognised as sons of his father's Death Eaters, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott.
"Ev'ryone in?" came Hagrid's voice. "Righ' then; FORWARD!"
At once, the little boats set off across the lake, all following the boat bearing the giant gamekeeper.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec." Hagrid said. "Jus' round this bend 'ere."
There was a collective "Ooooh!" from the first years. Matthew rolled his eyes. He had seen Hogwarts before in memories his father had used to train him, and he was impressed by the magnificent sight as well. But he wasn't about to gush over it like everyone else.
A few moments later, the boats bumped against the shore. Everyone stepped out and huddled together against the chill.
"You there! This yer toad?" Hagrid asked.
"Trevor!" came a boy's voice. Matthew smirked slightly, recognising him as the boy who had asked them if they'd seen it on the train. What a pathetic excuse for a wizard. Beside him, Draco's facial expression as he regarded the boy told Matthew that he was thinking exactly the same thing.
Hagrid led them all up a large set of stone steps to an enormous wooden door. He raised his hand and knocked three times.
The door swung back to reveal a tall, stern-looking woman, dressed in emerald-green robes. This, Matthew assumed, was Minerva McGonagall. From what his father had told him of her, she was definitely in with Dumbledore.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid said.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
Professor McGonagall led the first years into a small room off from the Great Hall. Closing the door behind her, she turned to the group huddled before her.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. In a few moments, I will take you into the Hall for the Sorting Ceremony. The Sorting is a very important event, because while you are here, your House will be something like your family. The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each has produced outstanding witches and wizards over the years, and I hope that you will all be a credit to whichever House becomes yours." She strode over to the door and opened it. "Please wait here a moment. I will return when we are ready for you."
As soon as the door closed behind her, excited whispers broke out among the crowd.
"My brother said we have to fight a troll!" Matthew heard Ron exclaim. He snorted.
"Honestly, Weasley, do you really think they would let first years fight a troll?"
Ron glared at him.
"I didn't ask your opinion, Riddle."
Matthew held up his hands.
"Fair enough." He turned to Draco. "How thick do you have to be?"
Before Draco could answer though, there was a scream from behind them. Matthew spun round, his wand in his hand, before remembering his cover and quickly stowing it. Materialising through the wall were several pearly-white ghosts. Matthew rolled his eyes. People weren't expecting ghosts? In a school of magic?
"...forgive and forget, I say. We ought to give Peeves a second chance."
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves enough chances? He gives us all a bad name, and, you know, he's not even really a ghost." said a ghost wearing a ruff. "I say, what are you all doing here?" he said, suddenly noticing the first years.
No one spoke.
"New students!" said the Friar. "About to be Sorted, I imagine. Hope to see you in Hufflepuff."
"Move along now, please!" Professor McGonagall was back. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start."
She led the first years out and into the Great Hall. They walked past four long tables and up onto a slightly raised platform. She then produced a three-legged stool and a patched, frayed and extremely dirty old wizard's hat. Matthew recognised it from his father's memories as the Sorting Hat. A rip opened near the brim, and the Hat began to sing. Matthew zoned out the Hat's song, preferring instead to scan the sea of faces in front of him. He recognised nearly everyone at the Slytherin table; most had at least one parent who was a Death Eater, as well as some at the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff table.
Suddenly everyone burst into applause. Matthew brought himself out of his reverie, realising the Hat must have finally finished it's song. Professor McGonagall pulled from within her robes a scroll of parchment. Unrolling it, she said, "When I call your name, come forward and sit on the stool. Abbott, Hannah!"
Matthew watched as a blonde girl walked forward and sat on the stool. Professor McGonagall lowered the Hat onto her head. The Hat was silent for a moment, before the rip in the brim opened again.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Matthew watched as the girl walked over to one of the tables and sat down. Possibly.
"Bones, Susan!"
Matthew stared intently at the girl walking nervously to the Hat. Bones? His father had told him of an Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She could make a powerful ally.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
And so the Sorting continued, with Matthew clocking people whose names he recognised. Hermione went to Ravenclaw, to Matthew's delight. He continued to take stock of who was who until, finally:
"Riddle, Matthew!"
Dumbledore sat up a little straighter in his chair, his eyes studying Matthew intently, an unreadable expression on his face. Snape watched Matthew closely as he strode confidently up to the stool. He sat down, and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head.
"Hmm, very interesting," came a voice that Matthew assumed was the Hat. "You have a very interesting mind. You'd do very well in Ravenclaw, though I think you'd do much better in . . . SLYTHERIN!"
He felt the Hat leave his head. Standing up, he strode purposefully over to the Slytherin table and took a seat next to Draco. Turning his attention back to the remaining first years, he resumed his reconnaissance for possible allies, though there were few that really caught his eye. Too early to tell yet, anyway.
Once Blaise had been Sorted into Slytherin, Professor McGonagall picked up the hat and stool and moved it to the back of the Hall. Before conversation could start in full, however, Dumbledore got to his feet. Matthew had to exert a large amount of self-control to stop himself from sneering at the Headmaster.
"I have only a few words to say before the start-of-term feast. Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" Sitting back down again, he turned and started a conversation with Professor McGonagall. Looking at Draco, Matthew raised his eyebrows.
"The man's mental." Draco said, starting to pile his plate with food. "He's not long for this world."
Matthew started loading up his plate as well. "If my father has his way, he won't be here in five years."
"I'm telling you, that time can't come quickly enough." Draco started tucking into his dinner. "So, what's this plan of yours?"
Matthew shook his head. "Not now. I'll explain after the feast, I promise."
Draco shrugged. "You'd better."
"Matthew Riddle!"
Matthew turned to see Marcus Flint, the son of one of his father's Death Eaters, leaning around Blaise.
"Hi, Marcus. How are you?" Matthew asked. He had seen Marcus around a few times, but never really spoken to him properly. He noticed the green and silver badge on Marcus' chest, and realised he must have been made a prefect.
"Not too bad. Listen, how's your Quidditch? Our Seekers left last year, so I'm holding tryouts next week. You interested?"
Matthew shook his head.
"No, thank you. I'm a decent flyer, but Quidditch isn't really my thing."
Marcus looked slightly disappointed.
"What a shame. Well, if you change your mind, just come find me."
Matthew smiled.
"Thank you."
Turning away, he continued to eat, hoping for no further distractions.
A few minutes later, the food disappeared, to be replaced by the desserts. Pies, tarts and blocks of ice cream in every flavour you could imagine adorned the table. Matthew helped himself to a slice of treacle tart, and settled down to finish his meal.
After the desserts had disappeared, Dumbledore stood up again. The Hall went silent as the students waited for the Headmaster to speak.
"Now that we are all fed and watered, I have a few start-of-term notices. First years should note that the Forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils." Dumbledore's eyes flashed to a pair of red-headed boys. "Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Those of you wishing to play for your House team should contact Madam Hooch. Mr Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to remind you all that no magic is to be used between classes in the corridors. And finally," Here, Dumbledore's tone became more serious. "this year, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds for any who do not wish to die a very painful death."
Matthew kept his face emotionless. Inside though, he was laughing. You fool, Dumbledore. I know what you're hiding, now you've just told me where you're hiding it.
There was a great clattering of chairs as everyone stood; Dumbledore had evidently dismissed them. Matthew quickly rose to his feet and made his way over to where one of the Slytherin prefects was shepherding the first years out of the great Hall. Following her lead, the first years were led across the Entrance Hall and down into the dungeons. As Matthew already knew where the Slytherin common room was, he paid little attention to where they were going, choosing instead to mentally go over his plan for Quirrell and the Stone.
"The password to enter the common room will be "Boomslang." the prefect said to the first years. "This will change after the Christmas holidays, so make sure you find out what the password will be before the term finishes." She held the door open for all the first years to go through before entering herself and closing the door behind her.
Matthew looked around the common room. The place was decorated in the Slytherin colours of green and silver. Against one wall was a roaring fire, with large sofas and armchairs surrounding it. On the other side of the room, there were tables with chairs around them, presumably for studying. A bookcase also occupied this wall. Directly opposite them was a stone archway, which Matthew assumed led to the dormitories.
"Take a seat." he heard the girl say. He slipped down into a sofa next to Draco. "My name is Gemma Farley," Gemma said. "The other Slytherin prefects are Marcus Flint, Sophie Macnair, Alistair Carrow, Rufus Dolohov and Natalie Gibbon." Matthew smiled; all the Slytherin prefects were children of his father's Death Eaters. "If you have any problems, come see one of us. We won't sort out your problems for you, but we will give you advice and support. Either me or Marcus will escort you to classes for your first week, but after that, you're on your own, so I suggest you pay attention to where we take you. The girl's dormitories are through the archway to the left, the boy's dormitory is to the right. Breakfast is served everyday at 8am. We will take you and escort you to your first class. Lunch is at 12:30, and dinner is served at 6. Now, off to bed, you all have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."
As one, the first years all got up and headed through the archway, parting ways where the corridor split, the boys going left while the girls went right. Once they reached the dormitory, they saw their trunks had already been placed at the feet of their beds. Matthew beckoned Draco up, before throwing up Privacy Charms.
"So?" Draco asked impatiently. "What's your dad's plan?"
"He wants me to see who we could convert to the dark. If there are any that could be very useful, I'm to befriend them." Matthew said. "That's why I was making nice to Hermione on the train. There was something about her. I just have a feeling she'll be very useful later on."
Draco nodded slowly. "Okay, I think I understand. I'll play along, but I'm never going to be friends with her."
Matthew smiled slightly. "I never asked you to," he said. "The only other person I could see being any use is Susan Bones."
Draco nodded. "I can see how being friendly with the niece of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement might be helpful. I assume you're going to write to your dad?"
"Yes, tonight. There's something else Father wants me to do as well."
"Which is?"
"He wants me to try and get Harry Potter killed. The Philosopher's Stone is hidden in the school. If I can get Potter to go after it, he may be killed in the process. He's not expecting it to work, but if it does, then that's one less obstacle to worry about later on."
Draco looked rather surprised.
"So how are you going to go about it?"
"I'll put Quirrell under the Imperius Curse. I'll force him to go after the Stone. With luck, Potter will take the bait and follow."
Draco nodded.
"A good plan, no trail leading back to you."
"That was the general idea." Matthew glanced at his watch. "It's getting late, and I still have to write to Father."
"Draco nodded. "Of course. Goodnight, Matthew."
Matthew released the Privacy Charms and Draco walked back over to his bed, before pulling the hangings around him. Matthew pulled some parchment and a quill out of his trunk and began to write.
Father,
I arrived at Hogwarts safe and sound. I have already located Harry Potter, and will implement my plan at the soonest opportunity. You were right about Quirrell; this could be easier than expected.
I have also noticed a couple of people who could be useful to our cause; Hermione Granger and Susan Bones. Granger is a Muggle-born, but there's something about her that makes me think she could be useful later on. Susan Bones I think is the niece of Amelia Bones. Could you do some digging and find out for sure?
As you expected, I was Sorted into Slytherin.
Your son
Matthew O. Riddle
Matthew quickly checked over his letter before nodding in approval. He slipped the letter into his bedside cabinet before magically sealing the cabinet shut. Pulling his bedclothes out of his trunk, and after pulling his hangings shut around him, got ready for bed. The last thing he thought before he fell asleep was It begins.