On the last day of August Tom rode the train to London where he would be
meeting one of the teachers from the school to get a wand for him. He
stepped out onto the platform and looked around, with no idea what he
should be looking for. He felt a tap on the shoulder, and turned around.
"Mr. Riddle, I assume?" Tom met the twinkling gaze of two blue eyes with a graying man behind them. "I'm the deputy headmaster and transfiguration teacher, Albus Dumbledore." He extended a hand, which Tom took.
"Your name was on the letter wasn't it Sir?" Tom asked. "I was so happy when I received the letter, my mother told me I would probably receive one someday."
"You mother was Conscia Marvolo, correct?" Tom nodded, "I remember her from when I was in school, a bright woman she was a few years behind me but she made a name for herself quickly."
"She never told me much about when she was at school, but I was only seven when she died."
"Ah, that's right she was young, if its not too painful how did she die?"
"She had an illness that couldn't be cured, but I don't remember what it was." Tom lied; he didn't want anyone to feel sorry or worried about him because of the way his mother died. If he could avoid it no one would know he was an orphan.
"Here we are." Said Dumbledore as they stopped outside a dingy pub with the name 'The Leaky Cauldron' scrawled atop it with fading letters. "Come along Tom."
Tom followed the Dumbledore quickly through the pub and out into the back. There Tom watched as Dumbledore tapped one of the bricks with his wand and before his eyes the brick wall opened into an archway revealing a narrow street of colorful shops and people in clothes the like of which Tom had never seen before. He could have stared at it all day.
"You're first sight of Diagon Alley, and I doubt that it will be your last." Dumbledore looked about the ally as if he was drinking in every detail. "We will go to Mr. Olivander's shop to get you a wand Mr. Riddle."
The wove their way through the alley past shops advertising owls and dragon blood, books and brooms. Tom felt more at home in the few moments that he spent in Diagon Alley then he ever had at Riddle Manor or Mannford House. This is where he belonged; this is where he was always meant to come.
They stopped outside a shop with old glass windows and a sign outside that said, 'Olivanders': makers of fine wands since 382 BC.
"Here we are." Said Dumbledore as they walked into the store. "I have been in this shop many times Tom, although I only needed to come once."
"Professor, what brings you? .Ah." Said a man who had appeared from around one of the shelves full of long thin boxes. "You must be here for your wand." He turned to Tom his big eyes looked him up and down.
"That's right." Said Tom, meeting Mr. Olivander's gaze.
"Hmmm. Said Mr. Olivander as he looked at Tom, you look very familiar but I can't seem to place you. Perhaps I have known your family?"
Tom didn't like being asked so many questions about his family in one day. It unnerved him after spending so many years where no one would have cared if he fell off of the moon and into the orphanage.
"My mother was Conscia Marvolo."
"Ah yes. I remember her, ebony twelve and a half inches, unicorn tail hair; a good wand, excellent for transfiguration." He now met Tom's eyes again. "But you, we must find the perfect one." He pulled a box from one of the shelves. "Here we are nine inches rowan, with dragon heartstring." Tom took the wand in hand only to have it snatched away immediately.
"No, apparently not. How about." he pulled another box off the shelf and handed a wand to Tom, "Oak eleven inches unicorn tail hair." Tom waved the wand slightly but there was nothing. Mr. Olivander frowned slightly.
"Difficult I see, well we'll find it." He went through many wands and the boxes began to pile on the floor. Mr. Olivander began to look thoughtful. "What about." He glanced at Dumbledore, for a moment, who nodded slightly. "Unusual, very unusual." He pulled a box carefully off a shelf, and handed a wand to Tom.
"Try this one, Ebony thirteen inches, phoenix tail feather." Tom took the wand into his hand. He felt a surge of power greater then anything he had ever known. It seemed to fill his entire body with electricity. He waved it and out shot a cascade of green sparks.
"Interesting," Mr. Olivander looked at Dumbledore again. "A very difficult personality to match, I think there is more then meets the eye in you Mr. Riddle."
Tom chose to keep silent as they walked out of the store and down the street. Dumbledore's expression had been pensive since Tom's wand had been chosen. They walked in silence out of the Alley and through the pub.
"Now," said Dumbledore, "You will return to Mannford house for the night, and in the morning you will be brought to King's Cross station where you will take the train to Hogwarts. Here is your ticket."
***
Tom walked briskly through King's Cross Station. He passed a military convoy and wives saying tearful goodbyes to their husbands off to fight in Egypt or Poland. Tom knew that his father wouldn't be one of those men. He knew that few of them would ever come back, and knew that he could never be a soldier; he could never give his life for others for a country.
The only suitcase that he carried with him was shabby and old. They had found it in the attic covered in dust. He had packed very few clothes. He would get most of the things he needed at school.
He hated the charity, but it was better then spending the rest of his life trapped in that little orphanage, no. He would take the charity, but he would over come it. None of his mother's family was left, and the Marvolo fortune had disappeared. He would regain it and never need charity again.
Tom saw the barrier, his mother had made sure that he would know everything he needed to get to Hogwarts. He waited until he was sure that there were no more people going through the barrier to go through.
He immediately saw a huge red steam engine at the platform swarming with parents in different colored robes all waving to their children as they prepared to go off to school. Tom noticed that some of the parents were looking worried, and noticed that one young girl was crying her eyes out through the window to her mother.
"Mummy I wish daddy was here" she sobbed wiping her nose on the sleeve of her robes.
"Darling doll so do I, but he's in the RAF, you know he couldn't come, he's in Poland fighting." There were tears running down the mother's eyes too. "He would have wanted to come Myrtle, but he left before your letter came. He would have been so proud of you."
"Mummy I'm scared." she trailed off into sobs and moans "I don't want to leave without saying goodbye to Daddy."
"I don't either Myrtle dolly, but there is nothing that we can do, you'll have a good year right darling? I'll write every day." The girl was still sobbing; her pigtails were practically soaked with tears by now.
"Every day Mummy?"
"Every day darling!"
The train whistle sounded. Tom got onto the train and walked directly to the back. He didn't want to meet anyone until he was at school, until he knew more about the people and who would be in the same house as him. His mother had told him all about the houses, especially the one that he would be in, Slytherin.
She had been in that house, so had both her parents, Tom's grandparents. His mother had said that her family would always be in Slytherin and a few weeks before her death She had told him why.
"When the school was formed there were four founders: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Huffelpuf, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. You," she said "Are descended from Salazar Slytherin, and now you and I are the only remaining Heirs to his brilliance
"There is also a more important part to this. You are the Heir to all his power too. You are a Parseltongue, you can talk to snakes like I can, and you are a member of one of the most respected bloodlines in the magic world. You must not tell anyone though, always stay a step ahead of them and only give up information when it is in your best interest. You will always find you can outwit any of them Tom."
He found an empty compartment in the back of the train and closed the door. He pulled his wand out of his pocket and stared at it. Mr. Olivander had called him 'different' and 'interesting'. He had watched Dumbledore's face in the store, and now he was sure about it. He knew something about that wand that Tom did not.
Tom pointed the wand at a small piece of paper that littered the compartment floor.
"Accendo!" Tom watched the paper light on fire. It was one of the few spells that he remembered his mum using and it worked brilliantly. He felt alive for the first time as he felt the power in his explode out through his wand.
Tom stared out the window in anticipation. A few hours and he would be there, away from the horrible Muggle life that he hated so much.
The compartment door slid open. The girl who had been saying goodbye to her mother stood there. Her eyes still looked weepy and her upper lip was slightly quivering.
"Oh, hello I didn't know anyone was in here." She said looking disappointed "Who are you?"
"My name is Tom." He said this coldly without standing or even offering his hand.
"Oh." She said uncertainly at his tone. "Nice. nice to meet you. I . bye." She slid the compartment door shut abruptly and left. Tom settled back into his seat. That was the last thing he wanted, people coming to bother him on the train. He had to wait until school.
The train pulled into Hogwarts after dark and they left the train and stepped onto the platform.
"First years come with me please. First years this way please." A short woman with shocking red hair was speaking. "First years please come with me!" He hung back in the group of First years and climbed last into an empty boat that set off to the castle.
It was magnificent, huge and ornate. Tom thought it looked more like a home of kings then a school.
"Come along now first years, into the castle you are about to be sorted!" The woman had a very cheery disposition as she lead them into a room where they all stood nervously to wait. Tom stayed in the shadow of a corner and while everyone else was talking and introducing themselves around he watched.
Finally they were lead into the great hall and Dumbledore held out a scroll.
"You will now be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff." He set a tattered looking wizard hat onto a stool. The whole school stared at the hat until it bursted into song.
After it was finished. Dumbledore began to speak again.
"I will call you in alphabetical order, sit on the stool when your name is called and place the hat upon your head."
"Shannon Arnold." A blonde girl with a ponytail sat down on the stool. The hat waited a moment and then shouted:
"Ravenclaw." She got up and walked over to the Ravenclaw table among applause. Sean Barson went to Huffelpuff along with Margaret Bronze, and Frederick Darcy was the first Gryffindor. Tom waited patiently past James Gennings and Sarah Inis.
"Myrtle Lacrima" tom watched the weepy girl from the train go try on the hat. It paused for a few moments before:
"Huffelpuff." 'Robert Potter' became a gryffindor and finally Dumbledore called out,
"Tom Riddle." Tom sat down and put the hat over his head.
"Hmm. I know right where I should put you, but there is something else in your head that I do not understand, lurking just below the surface of your mind. Oh well it will be SLYTHERIN!"
Tom smiled to himself, there had been no doubt in his mind that he would get placed in Slytherin, but what the sorting hat told him. 'Something just below the surface.' What did a stupid hat know? He sat down at the table among the other Slytherins and felt very much at home as he waited for the rest of the sorting to be over.
"Now," said the headmaster standing up, "I have a few announcements before we begin the feast. As you all know the ministry is under attack by the dark wizard Grindelwald, and that war has spilled over into the Muggle world. For those of you who have come from Muggle families you are undoubtedly aware of WWII and a man called Adolph Hitler." Here he paused as many of the Muggle borns looked down at their feet. "We now believe that he is under the control at least partially by the dark wizard Grindelwald."
Many of the students looked stunned. Tom say Myrtle begin to cry again at this, she was always sniffling about something.
"This may come as a shock to many of you who's parents are fighting in the war, so I must express caution to all students in the castle we live in dark times." His face brightened, "Enjoy the feast!"
The school sat in stunned silence for a moment then burst into chatter and noise. All except the Slytherin table which remained silent a second longer then the rest of the school. The boy at the end of the table stood up. He had thin blonde hair that clung to the sides of his head.
"Slytherins, I'm Avito Malfoy and head boy this year." He made sure to pause long enough to allow everyone ample time to admire his badge. "Welcome to our new members, you are home. I hope, I know that you will all be a credit to this house. He sat down and the table began talking again.
"Hello," said a boy on Tom's left who extended his hand. "I'm Alexander Reginald, and you are? ."
"Tom Riddle." Said Tom meeting his hand.
"Riddle, I don't seem to place that name." Said the boy smiling slightly.
"Not surprising," said Tom offhandedly. "My mother is a Marvolo."
"Ah."
The rest of the evening went the same way, the conversation was based around families and the past. Tom kept the conversation turned away from him and neglected to mention anything about Mannford house or the last four years of his life. He alluded to his family's home in Switzerland.
As the feast wound down Avito stood up.
"First years follow me to the common room please." He led the way through the front hall and then down two flights of stairs and into a narrow stone corridor lined with menacing portraits and dark suits of armor. Torches glowed on the walls, casting shadows across the corridor.
They stopped outside a tall statue of two intertwined serpents. The snakes were subtle in the wall and would have been unnoticeable unless you were looking for them.
"Passssssword" hissed the snakes."
"coluber" said Avito and the snakes un-twirled opening a small arched doorway in the wall. "This is the Slytherin common room, make sure to remember the password and any others that it is changed to. Further more if any of you are caught giving the password to anyone else. There will be consequences." Tom noticed that not one face looked worried, no one had ever intended to give up the password and no one ever would.
Tom entered the room. It was dark and harsh, decked in ebony wood and emerald green tapestries and carpet. The furniture was sleek and bare, the room seemed comfortable but not warm. The light from the fire and lamps even seemed to have a green glow, and no warmth emanated from them.
"Boys down the corridor to the third door. Girls down the stairs to the second room on the left." Tom was followed down the corridor by Alexander Reginald and the rest of the Slytherin first years.
"My Father went to school with your mother, but I don't believe he knew your father."
"I doubt that he would, my father is Swiss, I spent most of my childhood in his chateau on the alps."
"Why aren't you going to school out there, near your father?" Tom smiled.
"I would have thought you would discern the reason behind that, Hogwarts is the best school on the continent, and as a Marvolo I could hardly go anywhere else."
"Indeed."
***
Tom quickly realized that he was much smarter then the rest of his class. Even Alexander couldn't keep up with him in most classes. The one class that Tom couldn't keep up in was flying. The rest of Slytherin had been flying and playing Quidditch since they were little, but Tom hadn't.
It was the third week of school but the first years all still carried their timetables with them incase they forgot where they were going. Alexander pulled his out and frowned.
"Transfiguration, I hate that class, Dumbledore is so creepy. It seems like he looks through you, like he thinks he's better then you." Alexander smirked, "No wonder he's the head of Gryffindor, he's so damn arrogant."
Tom nodded assent but didn't say anything, he was still deciding on his impression of Dumbledore. He agreed with Alexander in one respect though, Dumbledore did have that quality that made it seem like everything you said was lying right out in front of him.
They walked into class and sat in the second row of desks.
"Today." Said Dumbledore with a half smile as he saw that all the desks were covered in parchment and books ready to take notes. They had been studying theory since the beginning of the year. "you will need only your wands." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled slightly behind his half moon spectacles. "I don't expect that any of you will be able to cause much change the first time, so be patient."
"I'll show him," Alexander whispered and Tom smirked.
"Hold your wand firmly in hand, unlike charms you will not swish and flick, hold your wand high and drag it downwards. The spell is _______.
While most of the class including Alexander dragged their wands down and spoke effortlessly Tom held his wand and concentrated. He focused all of his energy to his arm and then through his wand to the needle on the table. He pulled down his wand.
"_________"
The match was gone; in its place was a shiny silver needle. Tom caught Dumbledore's eye but didn't say anything. Alexander saw Tom's needle and pulled a frown. He seemed to put far more concentration into the spell then he had before.
"________"
Alexander looked down at his needle very much pleased. "Professor, I did it." He said not even trying to keep the arrogance out of his voice. Dumbledore came over to survey their desks.
"Ah very good Mr. Reginald." Dumbledore looked again at Tom who looked passively back, Dumbledore seemed to shrug slightly before he walking away.
***
"So anyway," Said Alexander as he walked with Tom and the rest of the Slytherin first years down the Charms corridor towards the Great Hall. "It was right outside the potions room, I saw that girl er. what's her name with the glasses from Hufflepuff, well anyway that doesn't matter. It looked like a small river was pouring from her eyes, it was SO funny!" Alexander was laughing so hard that he could barely finish his story.
"So I ran into Olive and se was practically cackling with laughter, it turns out one of the portraits scared her." At this point Alexander ceased to be able to speak for about five minutes. "She is such a mudblood."
The whole group laughed.
They walked down the hall talking about Quidditch and the chances of the new school teams. Tom walked silently in the group listening so that he could repeat everything that was said later.
"Mr. Riddle may I have a word with you?" Tom whirled around to see Professor Dumbledore standing behind the group. Tom wondered how long he had been listening to their conversation. Alexander caught his eye and raised an eyebrow.
"I'll catch up." Tom said, Alexander shrugged and continued walking.
Tom walked down the hall silently next to Dumbledore. He waited for Dumbledore to say something.
"I've heard you're doing well in your classes." Tom shrugged.
"I'm doing OK I guess." They walked in silence again. Tom wasn't going to offer anything except what was required.
"You seem to be getting along well with your house mates." Tom stopped abruptly and looked sharply up into Dumbledore's twinkling eyes. He held them for a few seconds before looking back forward.
"Sure." Dumbledore looked pensive for a moment. Then he nodded to Tom and walked away.
Tom watched him go. Those two questions seemed so innocent, but there was something behind them that he couldn't figure out. He headed back to the common room.
When Tom got back to the common room it was a buzz with talk. He looked around to see the first years crowded around in one corner of the room. He saw Alexander look up and wave him over.
"What's going on?" Tom asked, Alexander pulled away from the group holding a copy of the daily prophet. He pointed to the headline and handed it over to Tom.
***
GRINDELWALD SUSPTECTED OF CURSING MUGGLE LEADERS
Noted dark wizard Grindelwald has been suspected of enchanting the Muggle German leader Adolf Hitler as well as the Italian leader Benito Mussolini.
***
Tom looked up at Alexander who nodded back down at the newspaper, Tom continued to read,
***
The reports have not been officially confirmed by the Ministry, but anonymous high level sources inside the Aurors' office have talked exclusively to the Daily Prophet.
The two leaders have both taken power through a Muggle form of government called 'Facism' Aurors feel that, "It is highly unlikely that a person could take such total power without magical help." There are also unconfirmed rumors from inside the Spanish Ministry that revolutionist Francisco Franco may also be under Dark Magic control.
The untold story behind the reports is that the Ministry is not choosing to acknowlege the problem and refuses to try and help.
"Different factions in the Ministry are unable to decide on the best course of action to quash control over the Muggles, and many refuse to admit that there even is a problem, and still others believe that tampering in Muggle affairs is a violation of their autonomy." Commented one. Another stated:
"Without some kind of coalition government we will never be able to fight Dark control of muggles."
The Ministry still refuses to release any comment concerning the overwhelming evidence of violence against Muggles.
***
Tom finished the article and looked up at Alexander. There was a look of triumph in his eyes and he smirked at the article.
"They're never going to be able to get a coalition." Said Alexander positively smirking as he looked over the paper. I heard some sixth years talking and one of them said that a couple powerful families in the ministry were keeping the proper votes from happening."
Tom nodded, content just to listen to the information.
"I heard the same thing from some Ravenclaws on the way to Charms," chimed in Charles from the group. "Although they sounded less then happy about it."
Alexander sniggered.
They wouldn't be would they Tom thought. It was all the way you looked at it.
"BANG!" The stone archway door flew open and three seventh years burst into the room in a swirl of black robes.
"That bitch!" Tom heard one of them say as he craned his head to see who had entered the door. He recognized two of the faces, Avito, and Charles's older brother Dominic; they were in furious conversation with a tall girl with black hair hanging down to the middle of her back. "Where the hell does she get off acting all high and mighty."
"Its not like we were doing anything anyway." Said the girl with a smirk. "She was just being an arrogant Gryffindor bitch." Avito had been silent listening to them. Tom tried to read the expression on his face but it was closely guarded. He took a deep breath and spoke.
"I'll talk to her," he was far more calm then the other two. "She was probably just overreacting from shock. Nothing will come of it, I promise."
The girl nodded but Dominic still looked worried. He was shuffling his feet back and forth and his hand was moving nervously over the girl's back.
"Don't worry so much." Avito reassured them with a winning smile, she's not quite as big a bitch as she seems. At this Dominic let out a snort of laughter.
"Sure, I have class with her remember?" He said with a grimace. "She's a bloody nightmare!" he began speaking in a high falsetto: "Oh professor, how interesting because I was just reading about some completely pointless thing that doesn't really relate to the lesson but I'm going to say it anyway." He cracked a positively evil grin when he noticed that the rest of the seventh years and even some sixth years had stopped what they were doing to listen. He continued now to an audience:
"Reginald! That's five points from Slytherin for holding Katy's hand on the way to charms." He continued in his own voice, "but Minerva we were only holding hands what could possibly be wrong with that?" he again switched to the falsetto: "You should have more respect for those of us who are too terrible for anyone to like! Really Mr. Reginald! Have some pity.
Tom was only half listening, he was more intent on watching the rest of the common room that was now practically rolling on the ground laughing. He noticed that Avito was standing slightly away from the rest of the group, and appeared to be only half listening to the conversation around him. Tom focused his attention on Avito. He watched as he moved slowly towards the door and slipped out of the common room.
He didn't know what had prompted him to do it, but it had seemed fairly odd for someone who had to deal with Minerva Macgonagall everyday to sneak away when she was the subject of ridicule.
He followed Avito up the flag stone dungeon steps, through the great hall and then up into the main school. It took him very little time to realize that they were going to the library. He hid behind a stack of books and pretended to be looking for something as he went peered through the slats in the bookshelf at Avito.
He paused at first, scanning the room for something. He spotted a tall girl with a mousy brown bun and walked over to her. Tom could barely hear him speaking.
"Minerva, I need to speak to you." She got up and followed him into the book shelves. Tom couldn't really see them but could hear all that was said.
"Look Minerva, I wanted to talk to you about Dominic and Katy." Tom had expected her to get mad, but she just looked down at the ground and sighed. "I guess I overreacted, but they should not have been doing that in the middle of the corridor, anyone could have seen them, and I know some first years that would have been in for a huge shock." She looked back up at Avito, "Tell them to be more careful, alright?" Avito smiled.
"I will, but they said they were only snogging."
"Is that what they said?" she gave a snort of laughter. "I would not consider what they were doing snogging. It was foreplay and there is no other word for it."
"Oh please."
"They were! I am not making it up Avito Malfoy, it was disgusting."
"Oh I forgot, you don't approve of public displays of affection." At this they shifted slightly and Tom gaped. Avito had his hands on Minerva's waist. It was short lived; she took them in her hands and pushed them off.
"Avito don't."
"Why? No one's going to see us."
"Just don't."
"Why."
"It was your god damn idea! So stop doing stuff like this." She was glaring darts at him. He stepped back and held his hands up.
"Fine."
"Go tell Dominic and Katy I didn't take off points, and make sure they call me an arrogant Gryffindor bitch at least seven times."
"I'll see ya."
He walked out of the library and Tom followed him after a few minutes. He walked a little ways down the hallway.
"You know," said a voice behind him, "If you are going to sneak around and follow people you may want to get a little better at it." Tom spun around to see that Avito was now right behind him.
He walked next to Tom in silence for a while. Tom had no idea what to say so he just stayed quiet.
"So now you know." Avito said breaking the silence. "We've been dating since last year, no one knows." He stopped and turned to Tom, he towered a fair height above him. "And it's going to stay that way."
"Why." Tom spoke slowly but deliberately, "Why does no one know?" Avito laughed.
"I should think that that would be obvious, her friends think I'm the slime of the universe and my friends think that she is an arrogant bitch, both of which are occasionally true." Avito laughed, Tom didn't.
"Look," Avito continued looking down at Tom. "It's really stupid to isolate yourself to just the members of your house, Its far more useful to know as many people as possible and to have them trust you."
Tom nodded; he knew that, he had always known that. The status that came with having a small exclusive group of friends was only good to a point, you had to go outside that group to achieve some things, and if you're too exclusive that could never happen.
"If I hadn't wanted you to know anything, then you wouldn't." Tom nodded again.
"I know."
Avito looked down at his watch.
"Dinner time." He started to head towards the common room. "See you in the great hall."
Tom paused for a moment before beginning his walk to regain the rest of the school.
***
(Author's note: I've been looking for a couple people to beta this story so if anyone is at all interested email me: princesslilianna@yahoo.com as you can see by the huge amount of grievous errors I really need the help.)
"Mr. Riddle, I assume?" Tom met the twinkling gaze of two blue eyes with a graying man behind them. "I'm the deputy headmaster and transfiguration teacher, Albus Dumbledore." He extended a hand, which Tom took.
"Your name was on the letter wasn't it Sir?" Tom asked. "I was so happy when I received the letter, my mother told me I would probably receive one someday."
"You mother was Conscia Marvolo, correct?" Tom nodded, "I remember her from when I was in school, a bright woman she was a few years behind me but she made a name for herself quickly."
"She never told me much about when she was at school, but I was only seven when she died."
"Ah, that's right she was young, if its not too painful how did she die?"
"She had an illness that couldn't be cured, but I don't remember what it was." Tom lied; he didn't want anyone to feel sorry or worried about him because of the way his mother died. If he could avoid it no one would know he was an orphan.
"Here we are." Said Dumbledore as they stopped outside a dingy pub with the name 'The Leaky Cauldron' scrawled atop it with fading letters. "Come along Tom."
Tom followed the Dumbledore quickly through the pub and out into the back. There Tom watched as Dumbledore tapped one of the bricks with his wand and before his eyes the brick wall opened into an archway revealing a narrow street of colorful shops and people in clothes the like of which Tom had never seen before. He could have stared at it all day.
"You're first sight of Diagon Alley, and I doubt that it will be your last." Dumbledore looked about the ally as if he was drinking in every detail. "We will go to Mr. Olivander's shop to get you a wand Mr. Riddle."
The wove their way through the alley past shops advertising owls and dragon blood, books and brooms. Tom felt more at home in the few moments that he spent in Diagon Alley then he ever had at Riddle Manor or Mannford House. This is where he belonged; this is where he was always meant to come.
They stopped outside a shop with old glass windows and a sign outside that said, 'Olivanders': makers of fine wands since 382 BC.
"Here we are." Said Dumbledore as they walked into the store. "I have been in this shop many times Tom, although I only needed to come once."
"Professor, what brings you? .Ah." Said a man who had appeared from around one of the shelves full of long thin boxes. "You must be here for your wand." He turned to Tom his big eyes looked him up and down.
"That's right." Said Tom, meeting Mr. Olivander's gaze.
"Hmmm. Said Mr. Olivander as he looked at Tom, you look very familiar but I can't seem to place you. Perhaps I have known your family?"
Tom didn't like being asked so many questions about his family in one day. It unnerved him after spending so many years where no one would have cared if he fell off of the moon and into the orphanage.
"My mother was Conscia Marvolo."
"Ah yes. I remember her, ebony twelve and a half inches, unicorn tail hair; a good wand, excellent for transfiguration." He now met Tom's eyes again. "But you, we must find the perfect one." He pulled a box from one of the shelves. "Here we are nine inches rowan, with dragon heartstring." Tom took the wand in hand only to have it snatched away immediately.
"No, apparently not. How about." he pulled another box off the shelf and handed a wand to Tom, "Oak eleven inches unicorn tail hair." Tom waved the wand slightly but there was nothing. Mr. Olivander frowned slightly.
"Difficult I see, well we'll find it." He went through many wands and the boxes began to pile on the floor. Mr. Olivander began to look thoughtful. "What about." He glanced at Dumbledore, for a moment, who nodded slightly. "Unusual, very unusual." He pulled a box carefully off a shelf, and handed a wand to Tom.
"Try this one, Ebony thirteen inches, phoenix tail feather." Tom took the wand into his hand. He felt a surge of power greater then anything he had ever known. It seemed to fill his entire body with electricity. He waved it and out shot a cascade of green sparks.
"Interesting," Mr. Olivander looked at Dumbledore again. "A very difficult personality to match, I think there is more then meets the eye in you Mr. Riddle."
Tom chose to keep silent as they walked out of the store and down the street. Dumbledore's expression had been pensive since Tom's wand had been chosen. They walked in silence out of the Alley and through the pub.
"Now," said Dumbledore, "You will return to Mannford house for the night, and in the morning you will be brought to King's Cross station where you will take the train to Hogwarts. Here is your ticket."
***
Tom walked briskly through King's Cross Station. He passed a military convoy and wives saying tearful goodbyes to their husbands off to fight in Egypt or Poland. Tom knew that his father wouldn't be one of those men. He knew that few of them would ever come back, and knew that he could never be a soldier; he could never give his life for others for a country.
The only suitcase that he carried with him was shabby and old. They had found it in the attic covered in dust. He had packed very few clothes. He would get most of the things he needed at school.
He hated the charity, but it was better then spending the rest of his life trapped in that little orphanage, no. He would take the charity, but he would over come it. None of his mother's family was left, and the Marvolo fortune had disappeared. He would regain it and never need charity again.
Tom saw the barrier, his mother had made sure that he would know everything he needed to get to Hogwarts. He waited until he was sure that there were no more people going through the barrier to go through.
He immediately saw a huge red steam engine at the platform swarming with parents in different colored robes all waving to their children as they prepared to go off to school. Tom noticed that some of the parents were looking worried, and noticed that one young girl was crying her eyes out through the window to her mother.
"Mummy I wish daddy was here" she sobbed wiping her nose on the sleeve of her robes.
"Darling doll so do I, but he's in the RAF, you know he couldn't come, he's in Poland fighting." There were tears running down the mother's eyes too. "He would have wanted to come Myrtle, but he left before your letter came. He would have been so proud of you."
"Mummy I'm scared." she trailed off into sobs and moans "I don't want to leave without saying goodbye to Daddy."
"I don't either Myrtle dolly, but there is nothing that we can do, you'll have a good year right darling? I'll write every day." The girl was still sobbing; her pigtails were practically soaked with tears by now.
"Every day Mummy?"
"Every day darling!"
The train whistle sounded. Tom got onto the train and walked directly to the back. He didn't want to meet anyone until he was at school, until he knew more about the people and who would be in the same house as him. His mother had told him all about the houses, especially the one that he would be in, Slytherin.
She had been in that house, so had both her parents, Tom's grandparents. His mother had said that her family would always be in Slytherin and a few weeks before her death She had told him why.
"When the school was formed there were four founders: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Huffelpuf, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. You," she said "Are descended from Salazar Slytherin, and now you and I are the only remaining Heirs to his brilliance
"There is also a more important part to this. You are the Heir to all his power too. You are a Parseltongue, you can talk to snakes like I can, and you are a member of one of the most respected bloodlines in the magic world. You must not tell anyone though, always stay a step ahead of them and only give up information when it is in your best interest. You will always find you can outwit any of them Tom."
He found an empty compartment in the back of the train and closed the door. He pulled his wand out of his pocket and stared at it. Mr. Olivander had called him 'different' and 'interesting'. He had watched Dumbledore's face in the store, and now he was sure about it. He knew something about that wand that Tom did not.
Tom pointed the wand at a small piece of paper that littered the compartment floor.
"Accendo!" Tom watched the paper light on fire. It was one of the few spells that he remembered his mum using and it worked brilliantly. He felt alive for the first time as he felt the power in his explode out through his wand.
Tom stared out the window in anticipation. A few hours and he would be there, away from the horrible Muggle life that he hated so much.
The compartment door slid open. The girl who had been saying goodbye to her mother stood there. Her eyes still looked weepy and her upper lip was slightly quivering.
"Oh, hello I didn't know anyone was in here." She said looking disappointed "Who are you?"
"My name is Tom." He said this coldly without standing or even offering his hand.
"Oh." She said uncertainly at his tone. "Nice. nice to meet you. I . bye." She slid the compartment door shut abruptly and left. Tom settled back into his seat. That was the last thing he wanted, people coming to bother him on the train. He had to wait until school.
The train pulled into Hogwarts after dark and they left the train and stepped onto the platform.
"First years come with me please. First years this way please." A short woman with shocking red hair was speaking. "First years please come with me!" He hung back in the group of First years and climbed last into an empty boat that set off to the castle.
It was magnificent, huge and ornate. Tom thought it looked more like a home of kings then a school.
"Come along now first years, into the castle you are about to be sorted!" The woman had a very cheery disposition as she lead them into a room where they all stood nervously to wait. Tom stayed in the shadow of a corner and while everyone else was talking and introducing themselves around he watched.
Finally they were lead into the great hall and Dumbledore held out a scroll.
"You will now be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff." He set a tattered looking wizard hat onto a stool. The whole school stared at the hat until it bursted into song.
After it was finished. Dumbledore began to speak again.
"I will call you in alphabetical order, sit on the stool when your name is called and place the hat upon your head."
"Shannon Arnold." A blonde girl with a ponytail sat down on the stool. The hat waited a moment and then shouted:
"Ravenclaw." She got up and walked over to the Ravenclaw table among applause. Sean Barson went to Huffelpuff along with Margaret Bronze, and Frederick Darcy was the first Gryffindor. Tom waited patiently past James Gennings and Sarah Inis.
"Myrtle Lacrima" tom watched the weepy girl from the train go try on the hat. It paused for a few moments before:
"Huffelpuff." 'Robert Potter' became a gryffindor and finally Dumbledore called out,
"Tom Riddle." Tom sat down and put the hat over his head.
"Hmm. I know right where I should put you, but there is something else in your head that I do not understand, lurking just below the surface of your mind. Oh well it will be SLYTHERIN!"
Tom smiled to himself, there had been no doubt in his mind that he would get placed in Slytherin, but what the sorting hat told him. 'Something just below the surface.' What did a stupid hat know? He sat down at the table among the other Slytherins and felt very much at home as he waited for the rest of the sorting to be over.
"Now," said the headmaster standing up, "I have a few announcements before we begin the feast. As you all know the ministry is under attack by the dark wizard Grindelwald, and that war has spilled over into the Muggle world. For those of you who have come from Muggle families you are undoubtedly aware of WWII and a man called Adolph Hitler." Here he paused as many of the Muggle borns looked down at their feet. "We now believe that he is under the control at least partially by the dark wizard Grindelwald."
Many of the students looked stunned. Tom say Myrtle begin to cry again at this, she was always sniffling about something.
"This may come as a shock to many of you who's parents are fighting in the war, so I must express caution to all students in the castle we live in dark times." His face brightened, "Enjoy the feast!"
The school sat in stunned silence for a moment then burst into chatter and noise. All except the Slytherin table which remained silent a second longer then the rest of the school. The boy at the end of the table stood up. He had thin blonde hair that clung to the sides of his head.
"Slytherins, I'm Avito Malfoy and head boy this year." He made sure to pause long enough to allow everyone ample time to admire his badge. "Welcome to our new members, you are home. I hope, I know that you will all be a credit to this house. He sat down and the table began talking again.
"Hello," said a boy on Tom's left who extended his hand. "I'm Alexander Reginald, and you are? ."
"Tom Riddle." Said Tom meeting his hand.
"Riddle, I don't seem to place that name." Said the boy smiling slightly.
"Not surprising," said Tom offhandedly. "My mother is a Marvolo."
"Ah."
The rest of the evening went the same way, the conversation was based around families and the past. Tom kept the conversation turned away from him and neglected to mention anything about Mannford house or the last four years of his life. He alluded to his family's home in Switzerland.
As the feast wound down Avito stood up.
"First years follow me to the common room please." He led the way through the front hall and then down two flights of stairs and into a narrow stone corridor lined with menacing portraits and dark suits of armor. Torches glowed on the walls, casting shadows across the corridor.
They stopped outside a tall statue of two intertwined serpents. The snakes were subtle in the wall and would have been unnoticeable unless you were looking for them.
"Passssssword" hissed the snakes."
"coluber" said Avito and the snakes un-twirled opening a small arched doorway in the wall. "This is the Slytherin common room, make sure to remember the password and any others that it is changed to. Further more if any of you are caught giving the password to anyone else. There will be consequences." Tom noticed that not one face looked worried, no one had ever intended to give up the password and no one ever would.
Tom entered the room. It was dark and harsh, decked in ebony wood and emerald green tapestries and carpet. The furniture was sleek and bare, the room seemed comfortable but not warm. The light from the fire and lamps even seemed to have a green glow, and no warmth emanated from them.
"Boys down the corridor to the third door. Girls down the stairs to the second room on the left." Tom was followed down the corridor by Alexander Reginald and the rest of the Slytherin first years.
"My Father went to school with your mother, but I don't believe he knew your father."
"I doubt that he would, my father is Swiss, I spent most of my childhood in his chateau on the alps."
"Why aren't you going to school out there, near your father?" Tom smiled.
"I would have thought you would discern the reason behind that, Hogwarts is the best school on the continent, and as a Marvolo I could hardly go anywhere else."
"Indeed."
***
Tom quickly realized that he was much smarter then the rest of his class. Even Alexander couldn't keep up with him in most classes. The one class that Tom couldn't keep up in was flying. The rest of Slytherin had been flying and playing Quidditch since they were little, but Tom hadn't.
It was the third week of school but the first years all still carried their timetables with them incase they forgot where they were going. Alexander pulled his out and frowned.
"Transfiguration, I hate that class, Dumbledore is so creepy. It seems like he looks through you, like he thinks he's better then you." Alexander smirked, "No wonder he's the head of Gryffindor, he's so damn arrogant."
Tom nodded assent but didn't say anything, he was still deciding on his impression of Dumbledore. He agreed with Alexander in one respect though, Dumbledore did have that quality that made it seem like everything you said was lying right out in front of him.
They walked into class and sat in the second row of desks.
"Today." Said Dumbledore with a half smile as he saw that all the desks were covered in parchment and books ready to take notes. They had been studying theory since the beginning of the year. "you will need only your wands." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled slightly behind his half moon spectacles. "I don't expect that any of you will be able to cause much change the first time, so be patient."
"I'll show him," Alexander whispered and Tom smirked.
"Hold your wand firmly in hand, unlike charms you will not swish and flick, hold your wand high and drag it downwards. The spell is _______.
While most of the class including Alexander dragged their wands down and spoke effortlessly Tom held his wand and concentrated. He focused all of his energy to his arm and then through his wand to the needle on the table. He pulled down his wand.
"_________"
The match was gone; in its place was a shiny silver needle. Tom caught Dumbledore's eye but didn't say anything. Alexander saw Tom's needle and pulled a frown. He seemed to put far more concentration into the spell then he had before.
"________"
Alexander looked down at his needle very much pleased. "Professor, I did it." He said not even trying to keep the arrogance out of his voice. Dumbledore came over to survey their desks.
"Ah very good Mr. Reginald." Dumbledore looked again at Tom who looked passively back, Dumbledore seemed to shrug slightly before he walking away.
***
"So anyway," Said Alexander as he walked with Tom and the rest of the Slytherin first years down the Charms corridor towards the Great Hall. "It was right outside the potions room, I saw that girl er. what's her name with the glasses from Hufflepuff, well anyway that doesn't matter. It looked like a small river was pouring from her eyes, it was SO funny!" Alexander was laughing so hard that he could barely finish his story.
"So I ran into Olive and se was practically cackling with laughter, it turns out one of the portraits scared her." At this point Alexander ceased to be able to speak for about five minutes. "She is such a mudblood."
The whole group laughed.
They walked down the hall talking about Quidditch and the chances of the new school teams. Tom walked silently in the group listening so that he could repeat everything that was said later.
"Mr. Riddle may I have a word with you?" Tom whirled around to see Professor Dumbledore standing behind the group. Tom wondered how long he had been listening to their conversation. Alexander caught his eye and raised an eyebrow.
"I'll catch up." Tom said, Alexander shrugged and continued walking.
Tom walked down the hall silently next to Dumbledore. He waited for Dumbledore to say something.
"I've heard you're doing well in your classes." Tom shrugged.
"I'm doing OK I guess." They walked in silence again. Tom wasn't going to offer anything except what was required.
"You seem to be getting along well with your house mates." Tom stopped abruptly and looked sharply up into Dumbledore's twinkling eyes. He held them for a few seconds before looking back forward.
"Sure." Dumbledore looked pensive for a moment. Then he nodded to Tom and walked away.
Tom watched him go. Those two questions seemed so innocent, but there was something behind them that he couldn't figure out. He headed back to the common room.
When Tom got back to the common room it was a buzz with talk. He looked around to see the first years crowded around in one corner of the room. He saw Alexander look up and wave him over.
"What's going on?" Tom asked, Alexander pulled away from the group holding a copy of the daily prophet. He pointed to the headline and handed it over to Tom.
***
GRINDELWALD SUSPTECTED OF CURSING MUGGLE LEADERS
Noted dark wizard Grindelwald has been suspected of enchanting the Muggle German leader Adolf Hitler as well as the Italian leader Benito Mussolini.
***
Tom looked up at Alexander who nodded back down at the newspaper, Tom continued to read,
***
The reports have not been officially confirmed by the Ministry, but anonymous high level sources inside the Aurors' office have talked exclusively to the Daily Prophet.
The two leaders have both taken power through a Muggle form of government called 'Facism' Aurors feel that, "It is highly unlikely that a person could take such total power without magical help." There are also unconfirmed rumors from inside the Spanish Ministry that revolutionist Francisco Franco may also be under Dark Magic control.
The untold story behind the reports is that the Ministry is not choosing to acknowlege the problem and refuses to try and help.
"Different factions in the Ministry are unable to decide on the best course of action to quash control over the Muggles, and many refuse to admit that there even is a problem, and still others believe that tampering in Muggle affairs is a violation of their autonomy." Commented one. Another stated:
"Without some kind of coalition government we will never be able to fight Dark control of muggles."
The Ministry still refuses to release any comment concerning the overwhelming evidence of violence against Muggles.
***
Tom finished the article and looked up at Alexander. There was a look of triumph in his eyes and he smirked at the article.
"They're never going to be able to get a coalition." Said Alexander positively smirking as he looked over the paper. I heard some sixth years talking and one of them said that a couple powerful families in the ministry were keeping the proper votes from happening."
Tom nodded, content just to listen to the information.
"I heard the same thing from some Ravenclaws on the way to Charms," chimed in Charles from the group. "Although they sounded less then happy about it."
Alexander sniggered.
They wouldn't be would they Tom thought. It was all the way you looked at it.
"BANG!" The stone archway door flew open and three seventh years burst into the room in a swirl of black robes.
"That bitch!" Tom heard one of them say as he craned his head to see who had entered the door. He recognized two of the faces, Avito, and Charles's older brother Dominic; they were in furious conversation with a tall girl with black hair hanging down to the middle of her back. "Where the hell does she get off acting all high and mighty."
"Its not like we were doing anything anyway." Said the girl with a smirk. "She was just being an arrogant Gryffindor bitch." Avito had been silent listening to them. Tom tried to read the expression on his face but it was closely guarded. He took a deep breath and spoke.
"I'll talk to her," he was far more calm then the other two. "She was probably just overreacting from shock. Nothing will come of it, I promise."
The girl nodded but Dominic still looked worried. He was shuffling his feet back and forth and his hand was moving nervously over the girl's back.
"Don't worry so much." Avito reassured them with a winning smile, she's not quite as big a bitch as she seems. At this Dominic let out a snort of laughter.
"Sure, I have class with her remember?" He said with a grimace. "She's a bloody nightmare!" he began speaking in a high falsetto: "Oh professor, how interesting because I was just reading about some completely pointless thing that doesn't really relate to the lesson but I'm going to say it anyway." He cracked a positively evil grin when he noticed that the rest of the seventh years and even some sixth years had stopped what they were doing to listen. He continued now to an audience:
"Reginald! That's five points from Slytherin for holding Katy's hand on the way to charms." He continued in his own voice, "but Minerva we were only holding hands what could possibly be wrong with that?" he again switched to the falsetto: "You should have more respect for those of us who are too terrible for anyone to like! Really Mr. Reginald! Have some pity.
Tom was only half listening, he was more intent on watching the rest of the common room that was now practically rolling on the ground laughing. He noticed that Avito was standing slightly away from the rest of the group, and appeared to be only half listening to the conversation around him. Tom focused his attention on Avito. He watched as he moved slowly towards the door and slipped out of the common room.
He didn't know what had prompted him to do it, but it had seemed fairly odd for someone who had to deal with Minerva Macgonagall everyday to sneak away when she was the subject of ridicule.
He followed Avito up the flag stone dungeon steps, through the great hall and then up into the main school. It took him very little time to realize that they were going to the library. He hid behind a stack of books and pretended to be looking for something as he went peered through the slats in the bookshelf at Avito.
He paused at first, scanning the room for something. He spotted a tall girl with a mousy brown bun and walked over to her. Tom could barely hear him speaking.
"Minerva, I need to speak to you." She got up and followed him into the book shelves. Tom couldn't really see them but could hear all that was said.
"Look Minerva, I wanted to talk to you about Dominic and Katy." Tom had expected her to get mad, but she just looked down at the ground and sighed. "I guess I overreacted, but they should not have been doing that in the middle of the corridor, anyone could have seen them, and I know some first years that would have been in for a huge shock." She looked back up at Avito, "Tell them to be more careful, alright?" Avito smiled.
"I will, but they said they were only snogging."
"Is that what they said?" she gave a snort of laughter. "I would not consider what they were doing snogging. It was foreplay and there is no other word for it."
"Oh please."
"They were! I am not making it up Avito Malfoy, it was disgusting."
"Oh I forgot, you don't approve of public displays of affection." At this they shifted slightly and Tom gaped. Avito had his hands on Minerva's waist. It was short lived; she took them in her hands and pushed them off.
"Avito don't."
"Why? No one's going to see us."
"Just don't."
"Why."
"It was your god damn idea! So stop doing stuff like this." She was glaring darts at him. He stepped back and held his hands up.
"Fine."
"Go tell Dominic and Katy I didn't take off points, and make sure they call me an arrogant Gryffindor bitch at least seven times."
"I'll see ya."
He walked out of the library and Tom followed him after a few minutes. He walked a little ways down the hallway.
"You know," said a voice behind him, "If you are going to sneak around and follow people you may want to get a little better at it." Tom spun around to see that Avito was now right behind him.
He walked next to Tom in silence for a while. Tom had no idea what to say so he just stayed quiet.
"So now you know." Avito said breaking the silence. "We've been dating since last year, no one knows." He stopped and turned to Tom, he towered a fair height above him. "And it's going to stay that way."
"Why." Tom spoke slowly but deliberately, "Why does no one know?" Avito laughed.
"I should think that that would be obvious, her friends think I'm the slime of the universe and my friends think that she is an arrogant bitch, both of which are occasionally true." Avito laughed, Tom didn't.
"Look," Avito continued looking down at Tom. "It's really stupid to isolate yourself to just the members of your house, Its far more useful to know as many people as possible and to have them trust you."
Tom nodded; he knew that, he had always known that. The status that came with having a small exclusive group of friends was only good to a point, you had to go outside that group to achieve some things, and if you're too exclusive that could never happen.
"If I hadn't wanted you to know anything, then you wouldn't." Tom nodded again.
"I know."
Avito looked down at his watch.
"Dinner time." He started to head towards the common room. "See you in the great hall."
Tom paused for a moment before beginning his walk to regain the rest of the school.
***
(Author's note: I've been looking for a couple people to beta this story so if anyone is at all interested email me: princesslilianna@yahoo.com as you can see by the huge amount of grievous errors I really need the help.)