Finally an update yay! It did not come easy trust me but next chap I promise he at least makes it to the train. I will finish this story, eventually.

Alex Riddle

It was the night before his fourteenth birthday and Tom had agreed to let Alex's closes friends spend the night and to take them to Diagon Alley in the morning. Alex giggled as he watched his friends. Draco was chasing Blaise around with a foil for calling him a poncy rich dandy. He was already considering it one of the best days of his life.

Harry's closest friends included Pansy Parkins, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zambini and of course Draco Malfoy, all children of Death eaters, and all going to Hogwarts. Except Alex. But his friends were kind enough not to rub it in his face, and they were the first ones to try and help him talk his dad into letting him go. Even if they didn't say very much or push very hard, at least they tried. After all his dad was Voldemort, not many could speak up to him let alone a couple of fourteen year olds.

Already they had let loose a herd of kelpies into the bathrooms, let thestrals chew on the draperies, and had somehow filled all the dungeons full of bubbles…while Voldemort was conducting a meeting. Thankfully it was only an inner circle meeting, unfortunately all their fathers were in the meeting. Alex was grateful that his dad found it more funny than annoying while his friends all had a week of grounding to look forward to after the birthday party.

Harry never had so much fun with his friends. It was rare that he had a chance to spend a few hours exclusively with his friends one on one let alone with all of them. And now he had a whole two days to spend with them. No lessons, no chores (his house elves were looking after the animals for him), and little to no parental supervision (no one ever accused Tom of being a responsible adult, that was Nagini's job).

Flashback

Draco was the first friend he met. One day, soon after Alex's eleventh birthday, Lucius brought his son with him to meet Voldemort. At first Draco was afraid, he didn't know what to expect from the Dark Lord. And with the stories he had been told all his life about the dark lord, he was afraid. Tom saw this and decided to put him at ease by introducing him to Alex. Alex was delighted to meet someone his own age for once and the two were inseparable after that. When the two weren't together they were writing each other or talking about each other or planning what they would do the next time they could play.

Tom once said that while Draco was the one who always got caught and into trouble, Alex was like his shadow puppeteer who manipulated him into doing things. Alex disagreed, he would have done many of the pranks himself if not for Draco insisting on doing them instead and taking the blame for himself. Alex felt Draco was too overly protective of his much smaller friend, preventing him from doing many of the dangerous stunts he would have otherwise performed. Draco thought his tiny little friend should stop trying to give everyone heart attacks by tickling sleeping dragons (even if he says they like it).

Alex met Pansy, Blaise, and Theodore a few weeks after meeting Draco when their parents brought them over after they saw how happy he was playing with Draco (and so that their children could be for Alex what they were for Tom). Draco already knew the two from attending various pureblood parties and play-dates their mothers had arranged.

Lucius had at first worried that Draco would be jealous of the others since he knew how possessive his son could be, but Draco was instead happy to have the others around. Since he couldn't be with Alex all the time, he was hoping that having more friends to keep an eye on him would keep him from getting into danger. And to an extent, it seemed to work. With more kids to follow him around and clean up after him, Alex caused a lot less explosions.

Theo and Blaise fit right in with Draco and Alex, rough housing and pranking, causing general mischief. Pansy as the only girl, introduced several more feminine games like dress-up and tea partys and house. The boys only gave in and played along when ever they were too exhausted to run around anymore (although Alex refused to play house for weeks after Pansy told him he had to be the baby since he was the smallest and it was his nick-name, and the first time Lucius saw them all wearing dresses and badly put on make-up he banned dress-up permanently).

Alex liked his new friends and didn't care if Pansy was a girl or that she wanted to play weird games, she grew out of them soon enough (especially after she was introduced to water-balloons and dung-bombs, the girl was a natural prankster). He didn't even mind that they all insisted on calling him baby, even though he was only a few weeks younger than Blaise (he didn't realize it had nothing to do with his age but was actually referring to his height or lack there of).

When it was time for them to go to Hogwarts and they learned Alex wasn't going with them, they were all upset. Even though they had only spent a few weeks together they were all best friends and would really miss each other. They found it totally unfair that Alex, who was by far the most intelligent of the group, was the one who couldn't go to school. They all begged their parents to talk to Tom about it and even went with Alex when he asked him if he could go.

With tears in their eyes, they all said their goodbyes and promised to write to him every week, and tell him everything that happened so he wouldn't feel so left out. Alex gave them all hugs and promised that he would write back and that he'd plan lots of fun stuff to do as soon as they came back. That night all five of them cried themselves to sleep, four because they were leaving their best friend behind and one because his friends were so far away.

Two days later, Alex was pulled from his sad thoughts at the sight of four letters sitting in front of his breakfast. With a cry of joy he raced to his chair and tore into the mail, eager to hear how his friends were doing.

Dear Alex,

You aren't missing much. The halls are grimy and the dungeons are damp with slimy walls. The suits of armor are all rusted and the paintings are just annoying. It's like a less well kept version of your home only more annoying and less organized. I swear yesterday I had to walk UP stairs to get DOWN to the dungeons! It's a mad house!

You'll be happy to know that we are all in Slytherin, as if there was any doubt. Could you imagine one of US in Gryfindor? Or even Hufflepuff? Ravenclaw at least wouldn't have been bad, but we all know that if any of us were to get into Ravenclaw it would have been you.

Classes start tomorrow and Merlin knows why but all our classes are with Gryfindores. It's as if that barmy headmaster doesn't know about the house rivalries! I just know a fight's going to break out even before the first class. I already had a run in with a Weasley who turned out be a Gryfindore. Since we'll be sharing classes all day I can only cringe at all the points I know will be taken because of that lug.

So really as you can see you really aren't missing much. In fact I would rather be with you at home than here.

Wishing I was there,

Draco

P.S. Pansy is acting really odd. I think she's sick, but every time I ask her what's wrong she just turns red and starts stuttering. Maybe it's a girl thing, but see if you can find out what's wrong. Blaise and Theo just laughed at me when I asked them what was wrong with her.

D.

Alex grinned at the letter. Draco really was trying way to hard to cheer him up, but it worked. Alex didn't believe him for a minute, but he appreciated it all the same. They must be having a lot of fun, no matter what Draco said. He wished he was there, attending classes, bickering with the other students, being sorted into a house. He wondered if he would be a Slytherin as well after all he was being raised by the most feared dark wizard of the time (even if he didn't show that side to his son, Alex knew it was there). He could be a Ravenclaw as Draco said, because he really did enjoy learning new things. He even possibly be a Hufflepuff since he was extremely loyal to his father and his new friends, and didn't let stereotypes sway his judgment (like how dark lords are all evil, or that lethifolds all kill, or that dementores suck all the happiness from people, and how bogarts all showed your worst fear, all stereotypes perpetuated by the uninformed masses).

He was also worried about Pansy. He hoped she didn't catch something on the train, and it really wasn't nice for the others to laugh at her illness. Shifting the letters around, he decided to read Pansy's letter next and see if she mentions anything about being sick.

Baby,

I miss you sooo much! It's only been two days but it feels like forever. Hogwarts is so beautiful! I mean sure you told us about the enchanted ceiling and the lake all ready, but its not the same as seeing it! And that first sight of the castle, it took my breath away. I wish you could have been here with us. It's just not the same getting into trouble with out you.

And there's been trouble! Before we even got on the train, on the very platform of nine and three quarters, Draco picks a fight. He made the poor boy cry! And he was a pure blood! I mean sure he seemed a bit timid for coming from such an old family as the Longbottoms, but still. It was no reason to be mean unprovoked. Then on the train he picks another fight! With a Weasley! Its as if he forgets that there are a dozen of the things just waiting for the opportunity to hex him, and he picks on the youngest!

I tried to stop him. But he was unreasonable. I never realized what a brat he was without you around to mellow him out. Really he makes me so angry sometimes. Theo and Blaise were no help of course. They see nothing wrong with Draco's attitude. And why would they, theirs is just as bad. Blaise is being so sullen and introverted that he wouldn't notice if a midget was tap-dancing in a tutu on Draco's head. And Theo has immersed himself in books and hasn't said more that three words at once. You know how hard it is to have a conversation with a rock and a troll? Well that was me. I couldn't even talk to Draco cause he was ranting about something an I couldn't get a word out edgewise!

Baby, you are my only sane friend, please don't end up like them while I'm away. Better yet practice making portkeys and send me one so I can get out of here.

Missing you dreadfully,

Pansy

P.S.

Please write the boys and tell them to start being them selves again. I'm feeling lonely with out anyone to talk to. Oh and ask Theo and Blaise what's so funny, for some reason they have started to snicker every time Draco and I are so much as in the same room let alone if we sit any where near each other. I think they might have a disease of the mind. Thank you.

P.

Alex wondered what was going on with his friends. He wondered if Blaise and Theo thought the others were acting strange as well. Alex, unmindful of the food slowly turning cold in front of him, turned to the next letter.

Hey Alex,

This sucks. I really wish I could talk to you in person instead of sending you this lame letter. Every one is acting so weird without you around. Draco is an emotional wreck, I'm pissed, Theo is doing this Ravenclaw impersonation, and Pansy is… well, cracked. I think the stress of being away from you has caused her brain to malfunction, cause now all she does is stare at Draco and blush at him. I swear she even stuttered when she talked to him once on the train.

I think she might have a crush. Actually, that might explain why she's acting so…off. Ok so forget Pansy.

This place is getting on my nerves though. I think it does something to people, like there's mood-altering spells put into place. For instance, we all got sorted into Slytherin, thank Merlin, but instead of being happy that I was placed with my friends, I was annoyed I would have to put up with them for the next seven years sharing my bathroom. My bathroom! Like I ever cared about that before! And these are my friends, why would being around them piss me off (other than them acting like prats since we got on the train)? I think I'm going mad!

Merlin I wish you were here. I don't know how we'll survive school without you. I don't know how the school will survive us without you. We're doomed.

Doomedly yours,

Blaise (the prettier corpse)

Alex chuckled at Blaise's letter, and quickly flipped to Theo's to see his impression of what's going on.

Dear Alex,

Hogwarts is fine. Draco is angry about you being left behind and so is taking it out on the other first years and picking fights. Blaise is also upset, and is uncomfortable at being surrounded by strangers and being away from home, I think he is homesick. Pansy has a crush on Draco, causing her to act all girly and blushy. It's really making me uncomfortable. I've been reading the books you lent me, they are fascinating.

I'm sure the others have all told you we made it into Slytherin, although I was almost a Ravenclaw. Not much has happened yet since our first classes are tomorrow.

I miss you so much,

Theo

Alex grinned, then frowned. He was happy that all his friends missed him so much, but he didn't want them to feel bad. It made him feel bad about feeling happy about them feeling bad. They were all trying so hard to make him feel included and as if he wasn't missing out on anything. He really had some great friends.

Harry gathered up his letters and was about to leave his seat when he heard a throat clearing from the other side of the table. He looked up and blinked in surprise. "Oh, good morning Dad. When did you get here?"

Tom grunted. "I believe you were on your second letter when I came through the door. Now why don't you put those letters aside and eat your breakfast. I'm sure your friends wouldn't want you starving just to answer their letters a few minutes sooner."

Alex looked passed his letters and blushed to see his untouched plate pushed aside. He had forgotten all about eating at the sight of the letters from his friends. At the visual reminder his stomach let out a growl of hunger.

After eating as quickly as he politely could, Alex rushed out of the room to compose letters to his friends. The room seemed to darken as Alex left, leaving Tom to finish his breakfast, alone, in the dark, abandoned by his son for his son's friends. It was enough to make a father feel unloved.

It took a few weeks, but eventually the group of friends started to cheer up. Alex convinced his friends that he wasn't mad at being left behind, nor was he jealous or upset. And his friends stopped feeling guilty for going to Hogwarts without him. The letters became less derogatory about Hogwarts and instead mentioned interesting things about the castle grounds that weren't mentioned in Hogwarts a History. For instance, Pansy mentioned that the ghosts and the portraits always seemed to be watching the students. Theo swore he saw an invisible animal eating a steak ( he thought it might be a thestral but couldn't be sure without further investigation). Blaise said the giant squid in the lake liked butterbeer (no one would tell Alex how Blaise figured this out, and all Blaise would reply was that he took a leave out of Alex's book). And Draco mentioned a cerberus in the school.

They all faithfully wrote each week even if it was only a few sentences saying nothing much was going on. For every holiday the ones in Hogwarts would come home and visit Alex. Meanwhile Alex kept himself busy: practicing his magic, corresponding with a few shop keepers he had befriended in Diagon Ally, taking care of his pets, and keeping his father from killing his more incompetent followers.

And so three years passed quickly and mostly happily. They became even more tight knit as a group. Pansy was confronted about her 'crush' and laughed in their faces. Draco stopped picking so many fights with new kids (he had enough people to fight with now without adding to the list). Theo opened up more to his friends and stopped trying to hide in books. Blaise quickly got over his homesickness, then got over his embarrassment over being homesick, then got over covering up his embarrassment over his homesickness (Pansy told him he was acting like a two year old girl, he cried, she slapped him, he thanked her, and they never mentioned it again).

All this led up to now, the morning of Alex's birthday.

End Flashback