Title: Pen Pal
Author: Nekoanima
Summery: What if Harry had a pen pal as a child another boy who was all alone. Harry makes friends with the young Tom Riddle as their letters bounce through time to the one they needed the most.
DISCLAIMER!: I own nothing or Harry never would have ended up with Ginny.
Martha had volunteered herself to take Tom to the train station, just like when he was small and starting primary school she had walked him there, just like as if he was her own son.
After they arrived at the station she looked down at her precious boy and noticed his scowl marring his normally angelic features. She smiled softly as she realized what he was waiting for. He was so independent and he would never ask for help. He didn't want her to be around anymore. She sighed at this.
"Do you have everything that you will need for the ride Tom?"
"Yes ma'am." His politeness was always so cold to every one, the fact that it was only displayed when dealing with authority figures only pointed to the fact that it was force. But Martha never took offense she knew life had made him this way, though she wished that she could be present more in his life she knew when it was time to leave him be.
"alright then Tom I wish you luck at your school." She smiled gently before leaving him as he wished her to.
Tom looked at his ticket and shook his head at its uselessness to him. Then he thought about it logically. There were eight columns of platform nine and ten. How interesting he thought it was that there were the exact amount to be divided into quarters. Curiously he walked over to the sixth pillar and ran his hand over it. He was surprised and impressed to find that his hand went through it. He pushed his trolley through the barrier and found himself on another platform entirely and if the signs overhead were correct then it was indeed Platform 9 3/4.
Docked in the station was a long scarlet steam engine with the golden words 'Hogwarts Express' embosomed into its polished side.
He lugged his trunk onto the train and he found himself an empty compartment after stowing away his trunk he pulled out one of his books and began to read.
A few moments latter a dark haired boy looking to be about the same age as Tom himself walked in.
"Is it alright if I sit in here?" the boy asked and Tom looked up from his book. He stared at him for a moment but didn't answer.
"Alright then." The boy stowed his own trunk and sat down.
"Hi I'm Alaphard Black by the way." The dark haired boy looked at Tom expectantly even as Tom turned back to his book.
"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" Tom didn't even look up this time.
Several hours ticked by with similar results. Alaphard chattered on and on while trying to get a response from Tom while Tom continued to read his book.
Tom looked outside for a moment before standing and leaving the compartment. A few moments latter he returned wearing his school robes.
"oh is it that time already?" the ever talking Alaphard Black piped up looking at Tom." Once again Tom ignored him. A few minutes latter the train came to a stop and they disembarked. As they stepped off they found themselves being lost in swarm of students getting off the train, laughing and talking to each other, creating a deafening din of noise.
"FIRST YEARS! FIRST YEARS THIS WAY!" a bellowing voice came over the crowd, Tom turned towards it and saw that it was coming from a squat little old man with a fluffy mustache. Soon all the first years found themselves grouped together leading to more of them talking and creating nuisances for Tom who still liked peace and quiet far more.
"Black who is this?"
"I don't know his name he hasn't said a word the whole train ride."
"My name is Tom Riddle." The cold edge of such a light voice surprised the other first years.
"I don't recognize you surname, you must be a mudblood."
"Avery didn't your mother ever teach you etiquette such words are uncouth."
"Alright Tom let me introduce everybody to you, that guy over there that cant act proper at all is Felix Avery, the blonde with more hair than a girl is Abraxaus Malfoy. Um the guys over there are Dominik Lestrange, Mordred Carrow, and Augustus Rockwood"
"ONLY FOUR TO A BOAT!" the man herding the first years yelled. In the end Tom found himself sharing a boat with Avery, Malfoy, and Black.
He watched the water slip by as the boat cut through it; Harry would have loved it he thought. Soon the great silhouette of a castle could be seen. The boats were docked and the first years led to the doors. The man leading them raised his hand and pulled on a great iron knocker the sound of it beating against the wood of the door reverberated and silenced the group of children around him. The monstrous doors opened and allowed them inside where they were again led this time to an antechamber where they were told to wait. After the man left them alone murmurs began to break out amongst the youngsters.
"How do you think they are going to sort us? My cousins and siblings wouldn't tell me."
"I am unsure my father said it was to be a surprise."
Tom looked up from his book. "it's a hat." He states bluntly before returning to the world of words he immersed himself in. his other hand was in his pocket clutching at Harry's last letter, this was their chance even if she wasn't at his school they finally had a chance.
"No way."
"Yeah I don't believe you mudblood." Avery piped in.
"Believe what you will. It is a hat." Just then professor Dumbledore appeared before them and led them all into a Great Hall. There were four long tables with hundreds of students, at the front to the hall was a fifth long table seating the staff. In the middle of the hall Dumbledore stood with a long list and a three-legged stool on which rested an old weathered black witch's hat. The ragged thing twitched and then began to sing using a rip in it's side as a mouth. Tom did his best to forget he ever heard the accursed thing sing.
"when I call your names you will come up here and put the hat on your head." Then he began down his list calling each student out and the hat would cry out their house. This went on until finally he got to Tom.
"Riddle, Tom"
"Lets see here, oh you are brave very brave but not foolish in it like many of Godric's house. You are wise beyond your years and you quest for knowledge, but that knowledge is gained for power, you would find Rowena's children to be quite dull only seeing the books in front of their faces. You are loyal but I'm afraid if I put you in Helga's house you would eat those little dears alive, no you aren't nearly as carefree and light hearted as they. They wouldn't understand you, you have seen too much of the world's cruelty to be one of them. But Salazar's house yes I think you could fit there, you could fit very well indeed, your cunning knows no equal, and your ambitions, you haven't been conquered at them yet. Yes I know where you belong."
"SLYTHERIN!"
With that Tom removed the worn out tattered old hat from his head and silently walked to the green and silver clad table. He never saw the weary look in the deputy headmaster's eyes. A look that said that his suspicions were confirmed.
