Black Riddle

I do not own any part of Harry Potter, If I did obviously Voldy boy would have a twin...a good twin. All credit should go to the goddess that is J.K. Rowling and any others involved...honestly I just dabble she is the genius

Chapter Ten- The Platform

Sept. 1, 1936

"I can not fathom why you insist on being left on the side of the road like some street rat." Mrs. Huffman chided her adopted daughter in the backseat who was nursing a throbbing headache. A parting gift of her "older brother" Norman as he had seen fit to slam Alleria's head against her own bedroom door as she made to leave. Alleria wisely curbed her tongue and stared resolutely out the car window.

She wasn't sure how Dumbledore had done it but, somehow he had charmed her adopted family to forget about the shopping trip. Which kept her wand and strange school robes a secret. He had also convinced them to only drop her off at Kings Cross station. The man was a genius. However it did little to stop the complaining of Mrs. Huffman. Alleria comforted herself with the thought that very soon she would see Tom. He would be meeting her at the front. Minerva had even promised to save a compartment for them. Her friend was very eager to meet the older brother that Alleria thought so highly of. Seeing as Norman was hardly up to standard. Minerva had gone earlier that week to town; her whole family was obsessed with punctuality to a fault. They also had some family business so it had worked out for the best.

Once the somber group arrived at the relatively crowded train station Alleria allowed the first smile of the day bloom on her face. Tom was already standing impassively at the entrance a trolley clutched in his hands. A servant of the families stoically fetched her, her own trolley and unloaded her trunk onto it. After some mumbled good byes to Mrs. Huffman the only member of her adopted family that had deigned to come Alleria set a brisk pace towards Tom pushing her trolley with excitement. Her cheeks were flushed as she came to a stop beside him.

"Tommy, did you wait long?" Tom wasn't looking at her, but was glaring at the sleek expensive car that rolled away from them with Mrs. Huffman and company. Only when it was out of sight did he look at her, his expression slightly softer.

"Tom please Alleria, we aren't five anymore and no I arrived just shortly before you." Alleria fought the pout and sighed she had known he would put his foot down sooner or later.

"Let's go in now, Tom." She suggested putting emphasis on his name. A real smile flit across his handsome but cold face.

"Follow me then." He walked at a slow pace, quietly amusing himself listening to Alleria struggle to keep her trolley under control. Though it was a frustratingly slow pace he curbed his tongue. He only just got his sister back; he wasn't going to go ruining it.

"Do you remember what the Professor said?" Alleria asked as they neared platform eight. Tom only nodded turning to say something to her. He came to a stand still his eyes widening.

"Lleri? Lleri are you alright?" Alleria had stopped walking her hands clutching her head as a vision pulled her violently along side it. Tom strode hurriedly to her side sending menacing glares to anyone who either neared to help or glared at the aberration in traffic. They stopped anyone cold and the person in question found it quite difficult to move afterwards.

"Alleria." Tom said plaintively placing his hands on her shoulders as if to shake a response out of her. Her eyes lifted to his, they were swollen and excess liquid pooled onto her cheeks.

"What happened, what's wrong?" Tom hated feeling helpless. He was a boy of action, his cunning had kept him out of the edge of trouble for years. Yet he could do nothing for his sister, this disturbed him deeply. Alleria fell into his arms shivering.

"Him again." She whispered, her mind reliving the horrifying vision which had involved a hooded serpent, the dark snake-man, and three very small children. She was horrified, her visions of the man were usually limited to her nightmares. She had just been looking at the station and the people crowding it, when three children had almost ran into her. Before she knew she was slammed into the vision so hard she was seeing double. Tom held her close against his chest sighing and whispering words of comfort stiffly into her ear. Slowly she calmed her face flaming, she pulled away from her brother quickly. As her vision swam and bleared she cupped her forehead. It felt like she was going to explode.

"Idiot." He cursed, steadying her with a hand that was only slightly too tight on her upper arm.

"Are you okay?" He asked once again stiff.

"Yeah…sorry Tommy-um Tom." She corrected when she saw his lips tighten. His face softened again and he gently led her back to her trolley.

"Will you be able to make it onto the train?" He asked making sure she was standing up properly before he went back to his own.

"Let's go." She evaded. Tom noticed but stayed silent, walking beside his sister rather than in front of her just in case something else went awry. It was most likely only Tom's cool temper that got them through the barrier to the platform. Alleria though knowing what would happen when she pressed against the wall couldn't help but be frightened. Added to the fact that with each step gongs rang in her ears and a nail was driven through her skull, the experience was far from pleasant.

However with the ever present threat of Tom's temper getting the better of him, Alleria held her tongue. Following his clipped orders to the letter. The girl almost lost her feet once again as she stepped onto the crowded platform positively brimming with children of all ages, with their parents and younger siblings. She leaned against the trolley catching her breath. Tom was instantly at her side rubbing her back. Alleria could feel his disgust at her weakness which hurt a little and vaguely his worry. The whole thing embarrassed her completely. She brightened when her name was called over the hub bub.

"Alleria!" Minerva ran up to her smaller friend not even glancing at the boy beside her. She hugged her best friend something fierce before pulling back. She was already wearing her school uniform, a high waist pleated black skirt, a coal grey jumper with a peek of emerald green at the neck, and of course the schools robes. Her ever present wrapped bun and glasses was what made Alleria smile. Minerva's usually prim face was concerned as she looked Alleria over. She of course had always known the girl next door wasn't in good health, that it even had something to do with her adopted relations, however she usually hid it so well. If she was showing signs of distress it must be quite painful.

"Are you okay, your as pale as a ghost?" Tom for his part remained impassive, assuming that the small brown haired thing was Minerva McGonagall the girl that had incurred several bouts of vicious loathing and jealousy on more than one occasion. He was more than a little annoyed that the acquaintance would continue. However it made his sister happy…and if Tom had a weakness it was her.

"Fine Mini, Um Tom this is Minerva, Mini this is my brother Tom." Minerva turned her eyes on him pushing her glasses up her small nose as she did so. Before extending her hand with a smile. Remembering fondly her first encounter with the odd Muggle gesture.

"Nice to finally meet you Tom." The boy returned the hand shake coolly with his pleasant I'm-such-a-handsome-boy-worship-me smile.

"Charmed I'm sure." Minerva blinked owlishly before taking her hand back, a blush burning on her cheeks. Alleria would have been amused at the exchange if she had been looking. However she was busy studying the back of her eyes lids with the hope of discovering the secret of not passing out. She jumped when a hand pressed against her forehead. When she opened her eyes she was once against shocked it was Tom. While he was protective he wasn't exactly the most caring…well that wasn't being fair. He was kind just…sort of rough around the edges. He didn't really know how to go about being caring in the way she might want him to be. Which was why she was so surprised to be able to see the worry in his black eyes.

"You have a fever, I want you to lie down." He said moving his hand to support her. Minvera seemed to be jolted out of her stupor by the comment.

"Oh, follow me I already have my things in our compartment. Ma and my father have already left so we can go straight there." Tom inclined his head only slightly, his expression softening a little when his sisters friend took over Alleria's trolley. Allowing him to push his own and half carry Alleria at the same time. The girls were ushered inside while Tom made sure their trunks got to where the should before he followed them inside. Glaring at Alleria until she sighed and laid down cross wise on the seat. However her expression lightened when he moved her head into his lap.

Her head still felt like it was going to explode and her eyes ached painfully but the simple gesture relaxed her enough that she soon succumbed to sleep even before the train left the station. The silence was awkward at first, both Minerva and Tom kept staring at Alleria as if she would save them from the embarrassment but neither willing to wake her. Finally deciding to make use of the situation Tom turned his calculating eyes on Minerva. It was time to feel the girl out for information and perhaps gain a spy into his sisters world. Alleria after all, was proving too fragile to be left on her own.

"So tell me…Minerva how did you met my sister." With the stunning blush on the 11 years olds face Tom was assured that task wouldn't be too difficult at all.

A/N-Tell what your feeling my dears...hope you enjoyed it! Were slowly starting to see Tom's more demanding evil side. Spying on his twin already