Hello! After a while I am back again!


It has been...an eventful month hasn't it? A lot has happened possibly all over the world and it must've been overwhelming. I hope everyone is safe wherever they are. And, if needed, my DMs and Social Media is accessible for anyone who needs to talk about anything.

I won't go about blathering further. Here's the next chapter. It's part 1 only because it was getting too long, so I had to half it.

Happy reading!


Reviewers:

MyBeewing - Thank you for reading! And yes, she will!


At exactly 2 o'clock, Tom Riddle found me at the archway back to the Leaky Cauldron. He came with a brisk walk, hands pushed into the pockets of his robes, looking the picture of normalcy. To think, nobody would assume that he had just been sitting in a seedy pub, discussing plans to 'corrupt' me.

He didn't speak, no questions asked, when he joined my side, my eyes turned forwards, nothing on my face.

Silently, he pulled out his wand, rapping it sharply against the brick, waiting for the archway to fade into view. When it did, he turned to me for the first time. "May I help you with your shopping?" He asked, one hand held out in query and I squinted up at him.

Did he really mean to help? Was it the 40s influence? Or did he want to sneak a look at what all I'd bought?

"No, I got it." I replied dismissively and Riddle's face cooled, as if he'd expected another reaction.

Hah, I thought vindictively, no way am I letting you see my under robes.

He walked through first, leaving me to scurry after him, heaving the bags in one hand because I had the other one wrapped tight around my wand still.

Maybe it was Riddle's psychopathic tendencies, I thought, as we continued the journey back to the orphanage. He had to put up a front, didn't he? He had to appear a certain way. Well, as soon as he had been rebuffed, he continued on without a care, head held high, almost looking down his nose if he deigned to look at the other muggles ambling about in the streets.

I slowed down to examine a few people, wondering at the drawn, almost ill look of them. War wasn't easy to bear, that was true. The state of my friends back at Hogwarts, beaten, bruised, cursed and hexed floated back in my memories, the side of my head throbbing with a phantom pain.

I didn't notice when we reached the metal gates as Riddle pushed them open and walked through, not bothering to glance back even once, as he vanished inside.

I heaved a sigh of relief, at him disappearing and at the roof that now spread overhead. It wasn't my home, wasn't my school, wasn't the Burrow or even the Grimmauld Place, but this was all I had until a few days ago and I was grateful for what it provided.

Another twinge crossed me.

I was an orphan now. This was my lot. I had to be happy with this – satisfied at the very least.


"Miss Revel, is that you?"

It took me a second to process the voice, still thinking about the conversation I'd eavesdropped on. It wasn't until the caller was at my shoulder, presence known that I turned, surprised to see Miss Cole.

"Yes, Miss Cole." I answered, too late.

A slight smile twitched her face but it was mostly sympathetic. "How was your shopping trip, Miss Revel?"

"It was," I paused, for a very brief instance the cold voice of Tom Riddle echoed in my mind. "Uneventful," I finished when I thought of something. "Please call me Rose." I tacked on, knowing it would be easier to respond to my own name until I'd gotten used to the made up last name.

"Rose," Miss Cole tilted her head in acknowledgment. "I wanted to talk to you about something, actually. Come to my office." She turned, the ruffles around her calves brushing as she led the way.

I slowly unclenched my hand from my pocket, the wood of my wand released. After all, what could a muggle do that would require magic?

"Yes, Miss Cole." I said again, once I was deposited in the same chair I'd sat in the day I'd entered this room.

"Now, Rose, I will not go about with gobbledygook about things but I believe I should ask you about your future arrangements."

I blinked. "Um, I don't understand."

"You have…about three years more for schooling, yes? I know from…previous experience that Tom stays on at the school during Christmas holidays. So, would you do the same? What about during the summer? Mr. Dunkerton wasn't very…clear about your circumstances but I understand he has taken guardianship of you. Would he have you live with him? What are the arrangements for your accommodation?"

Miss Cole threw her questions at me with such speed and fluidity that I just had to sit in the chair, my mouth parted and my eyes shaking.

Never mind that I had to take a few seconds to understand her questions, I also had to face an unfurling of pure dread.

Yes, I did have three years of school…now. Back in my time, I was about to pass out, graduate. I had some semblance of a future. Even if it was hazy at best, I knew what was going to happen. If Harry had won, maybe participate in bringing some peace and stability to the ravaged Wizarding world. If Voldemort had won and Harry…didn't make it, I was going to make sure the DA rebelled. We were the same age as when the Order began.

They had been vague plans, but they had been plans.

And then…I died.

Even that had been a relief; no more pain, no more uncertainty but I had taken up a job. I was of use again, but for what and at what cost?

"Rose?" Miss Cole called softly.

"I'm pretty sure I will stay on at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays. I…haven't had time to ask Professor Dumbledore about what I'm going to be doing after that." I answered monotonously.

"Of course," Miss Cole shifted in her chair. "I want you to know you are more than welcome here. We have the space, and you're pleasant."

I didn't answer to that.

"Well, I think that's it. You'll get back to me if you have more information from your guardian, wouldn't you?" Miss Cole began to dig through the papers on her simple desk and I took that as my cue to leave.

"Yes, Miss Cole." I said one last time before I retired to dump the things I'd gotten in my room.

I wondered how I'd take these things onto the train, deciding that I might have to borrow a suitcase from someone. I could easily buy a trunk in Hogsmeade and return the suitcase.


As much as I would've liked to stay cooped up in my room, it wasn't much of a point. There was nothing to do; I suspected Dumbledore would be the one to procure my student supplies and I didn't fancy staring at the wall, even though the chipping paint did look interesting.

So I tugged myself out the door, making sure to shut it securely…and was promptly startled by Eric standing there.

"Bloody hell, Eric," I gasped, jumping back.

Eric Whaley gave me a metallic toothy smirk. "Jumpy, are we? Guess going about with Riddle knocked something about in yaw."

"Nothing happened." I crossed my arms.

Eric kindly dropped it, beckoning for me to follow him instead.

The room Eric led me to, was probably the biggest in the entire orphanage. It was most likely made by knocking a few walls down and joining some rooms.

The people I'd met the previous day at breakfast were all there, lazing upon various surfaces, some in groups, some further away from each other. There was one glaring subtraction from the residents of the orphanage and I was willing to bet that was the reason for the comfortable lounging about.

Billy was sitting in an armchair when he spotted me and Eric walk in.

"Over here," he called cheerfully, causing heads to turn to look at the new addition to their midst.

I paused, expecting hostility but to my surprise and some suspicion, most of them turned away without any comment. Martha and Anne continued to sew something grey in their corner after a tight smile in my general direction but Dennis and Amy kept quietly to themselves, not talking much but I caught an occasional murmur among their lips.

I followed Eric to when Billy sat and sank down into one of the armchairs.

"Um, is this the full strength of the orphanage?" I asked him.

Billy took a second to reply. "No…we have a few others but they are much, much older. They work and some of them have been deployed as nurses or soldiers. They just…don't come around so it's just us now."

I nodded, filing away the information when I caught Dennis Bishop's eye.

They were dark, too dark and unflinching as if he didn't even know he was staring at someone. But he was aware, I could tell, from the small flickers of movements as if he was attempting a study.

I looked away, leaning forward so that the back of the armchair would intercept his unnerving gaze.

It was foolish, I had no reason to be scared of a muggle boy but then…how safe was I really? Even with my wand, I was a fifteen year old girl again; unable to do magic without the Ministry breathing down my back, from whom I knew no one and could talk myself out with.

No, I would not be safe until I was back at Hogwarts. Not until I was under Dumbledore's eye because well…a certain Dark Lord existed.

One that I would have to murder…

I shuddered internally.

"So, how was the shopping trip? Did you get everything for school?" Eric asked.

I nodded. "Yes, it was okay. Um, I just need a suitcase to lug it to school till I can buy a trunk." I muttered.

"I have an extra that you can use. Give it back during Christmas vacation." Eric offered.

"Oh," I blinked up at him, surprised at the generosity from the otherwise gruff boy. "That'd be very nice. Thank you." I said, somewhat mollified about the fact that I would have to come back during the holidays to give him the article back. I wondered if Dumbledore would allow it.


I stayed in the lounge with Billy and Eric for the better part of the day, talking about their lives and mostly avoiding or blustering my way out of mine. I saw that out of the two of them, Eric was mostly the brawn, the protector, the one who took the blows. Billy was quieter, not akin to too much talking but he respected and admired Eric – something that glittered in the boy's eyes whenever he looked at Whaley.

When asked about the metal that shone where his teeth was supposed to be, Eric was surprisingly demure.

He called them braces, astonished that I had never heard of them – he leaned in, his teeth bared. I cringed back just a little before curiosity took over. The metal looked sharp, clutching onto the boy's teeth with metal wires holding it together.

I left the room when darkness fell, Eric lending me a slightly battered suitcase but I was grateful nonetheless and then I returned upstairs to pack up for tomorrow.

A thrill of nerves danced across my skin, making it vibrate almost.

I was going back to Hogwarts. Granted, it was fifty years off my time but still, there was no way I could be harmed there.

The smile I had on faded.

I had been harmed there. I was killed in the one place I had nothing to be scared of. And the reason and cause was once again going to be around…only he was a fifteen year old boy, just like me.

I looked down at the robes I was folding, now clenched between my fingers, knuckles losing color at the harshness of my grip.

This time, things would be different, I resolved. Voldemort could not be allowed to rise again. Even if I had to sacrifice myself, I would kill him.

A small crackle pulled my attention away from my violent thoughts, my head swiveling about in confusion. It sounded a lot like the radio that used to play in the Burrow but much scratchier, as if someone was running a voice through a hippogriff.

Figures; the time was 1940s for Merlin's sake.

I exited the room, looking over the staircase for the sound of it. It seemed to be coming from Miss Cole's office. I followed the radio, getting sharper in its frequency until I could hear what was being said. I stopped right outside of Cole's closed door, my head tilted towards the muggle voice.

'…a very strange incident was reported in the outlands as of today. A series of bombings that have shaken civilizations was caused by unknown equipment. The military has blocked off the scene from direct approach but prior reports confirm that there was no residue of chemicals or physical matter found. More information will be relayed…'

I straightened my head, looking out the small window at the end of the hallway.

Even as a pureblood, my mother had made sure that both me and my sister had been somewhat in touch with the muggle half of our parentage. I knew enough about muggle lifestyle to know what a bomb was, in theory of course, but to hear about it being used…

I wasn't a stranger to explosions, having participated in a war and having blown quite a few things up myself, but to be in a time when the threat of a bomb dropping on my head was very real was disconcerting. Never mind that there was probably multiple magical ways to avert that incident.

However, what kind of bomb was this that left no particles behind? Even magic left a trace behind…

Grindelwald…

The answer came so easily that I was sent reeling.

Of course, I was in the times when Grindelwald had ruled supreme as the Dark Lord, before Tom Riddle had even managed to show his true colors…

He was the real threat. He was the reason Dumbledore had first suspected me.

I glanced back at the door when the radio cut off and the clinks of glasses could be heard. She'd put the radio away, probably going to drink now.

There was no reason to stay on. I would be in Hogwarts soon, and I could talk to Dumbledore about everything properly.

Yes, everything would settle.

I turned to go back, stopped by a figure already blocking my path. I cursed in shock, falling back several steps.

Tom Riddle stood with his arms held loosely at his side, watching me with that imperious gaze, as if he was already looking down at me even through the façade of a good boy.

"Miss Revel," he acknowledged.

"Announce yourself, will you?" I snapped, his eyebrows shooting upwards immediately.

"Dare I say, Miss Revel that I do not need to do so, when it is you who was eavesdropping?" He said coolly, his arms disappearing behind his back.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the move, imagining him thumbing his wand like in the Forbidden Forest.

"I wasn't…I wasn't eavesdropping." I hissed, lowering my voice so Cole wouldn't hear.

"What was it that you were doing?"

The tone of his voice was condescending, I gritted my teeth. "Listening to the news, genius,"

His expression didn't change, prodding me to speech with his silence. "About Grindelwald," I relented.

At that his expression morphed into stone, nothing emotive about his features.

"Leave the girl to me, Dolohov. She could be corrupted. It would be very easy."

I averted my eyes, slinking past him as fast as my legs could carry me. I was up the stairs and slamming the door to my room in no time, leaning against it, trying to control my shaking hands.


Breakfast, the next day seemed tense. Maybe it was the fact that two more occupants of the orphanage would be away and they were happy about it; seeing as we were supposed to be 'freaks.'

Mostly, I thought it was because they would be able to tread easy with Tom Riddle gone for most of the year.

Miss Cole glanced at her watch at the head of the table, sharp eyes sweeping over to me and Riddle.

"Tom, Roselle, we will leave here in fifteen minutes, if we are to reach King's Cross on time for your school train. I suggest you go over your things once again and start saying your goodbyes."

I glanced at Riddle to see his face barely change, completely ignoring the woman but I respectfully stood, going up to the broom closet room to bring down everything and stack it up next to the door.

Riddle vanished up the stairs the moment he came through the dining room and then I was surrounded by Anne, Eric and Billy.

"I suppose I won't be seeing you until the summer again. Or will you come back for Christmas?" Anne asked. I glanced down at the borrowed suitcase.

"I'll be back here I think. I have to return this to Eric. I promise not to scruff it." I smiled at Eric, who grunted; hands deep into his pockets.

"It doesn't matter. Not that I use it to go around a lot of places anyway," He nudged the upright case with his knee, an almost bitter look to his eyes.

"Well, I guess we'll see you then!" Anne raised her arms slowly, hesitantly and it took me a moment to realize that she was reaching for a hug.

I jolted forward to not seem rude, letting her pat my back twice before she let go, a soft smile playing on her lips and leaving.

"Guess we'll see you then too, Revel." Eric shrugged and put out a hand.

I nodded, shaking his hand as he ambled off too, leaving me and Billy behind. I could hear Cole shuffling in the hallway by now.

"So, this is it. You excited? I know I'd be if I was going to a new school at fifteen." Billy asked.

Yeah, only it wasn't a new school I was going to. I managed a tight smile at him. "I'll see you at Christmas Billy." I said.

"Right," he glanced around behind him as he took a quick step towards me. "Listen, I think I should warn you before you go away."

"Warn me about what?"

"Riddle," Both of us turned to look at the stairs.

"What about him?" I asked, even though I had a vague idea what Billy was going to say.

"He's…well, he's not like you. I mean, he is but he isn't a…he isn't a good person, Rose. You must've seen what kind of effect he has in here. We're all - we're all scared of him. You're going to a school, where he's going to have friends. Maybe they're like him. Don't get too close. Just be very careful with him, okay?"

"Roselle, are you ready? Is Tom with you?" Miss Cole called.

A thud of a trunk followed soon after, with the man in question attached to it.

Billy huffed, glancing at me fastidiously. "Have a good term, Rose." He scampered away, leaving me to stare up at the impassive, handsome face of my enemy.

If only he knew.


And that's it for now. The second part of the chapter is outlined but I have another project lined up that needs to be written first.

See you again soon!