Alan Rosier is not happy to find his compartment being shared by a second-year, of all people. And to have that second-year be Tom Riddle, well, it certainly puts him in a dour mood.
He pointedly ignores the boy for the entire train-ride, and it seems that said second-year is quite happy to be ignored. He strokes that horrid snake of his and stares out the window, perhaps thinking over some aspect of his summer, perhaps listening to the fifth-years' conversation.
That is, in fact, what Tom is doing – studying the interaction of the fifth-years so he can get a better idea of where he stands as Lestrange's pet twelve-year old.
He is not content with his station, but there will be time enough to change it in the next two years.
He can feel Rosier's glare on him, on Ari specifically, and it is harder than usual to hide the smirk that threatens to reveal itself. It seems none of them have forgotten events of the past year – in fact, it seems that certain events have become even more abhorrent with the summer to think them over.
"Riddle, tell Dolohov about that discrepancy you noticed in the Transfiguration text –"
And thus the trick pony has been brought out to show off. He does not mind doing it for now – he needs to establish himself here, show his worth, and if he chooses to talk with that curious half-smirk on his face, then who needs know the murderous thoughts swirling in his head?
His hand doesn't stop stroking Ari's head, though, and this the fifteen-year-olds all notice.
They notice, too, when he offers his hand to the thestral pulling their carriage before mounting the steps. Only Lestrange can see them, because of his younger brother, and it is yet another thing to wonder about the strange boy.
Hello, everyone! I'm posting all the finished chapters for this story. I'm not sure I'll be working on it in the near future, but I do intend to finish this story eventually.
Thank you for reading!
~ TheAlabasterPhoenyx