I do not own Tom Riddle, Hogwarts, or anything of that nature.  They belong to J.K.  The story and some characters are mine.

Sorry again for taking so long to get this out everyone.  I had some trouble getting to the Internet, and every time I did, the site wasn't working.  I intend to get the next chapter out much sooner.

Chapter 5

Goodbye and Hello

            Tom Riddle placed what he figured was the last of his belongings in his trunk and prepared to close it. He scanned his side of the room as a final check for any important items. To Tom's absolute horror, he noted his mother's journal lying on his bed. He instantly grabbed it and after giving it a very significant look, placed it with the rest of his belongings. Tom silently scolded himself for the near horrendous error. Now slightly unsure of himself, Tom looked around yet again, but this time found nothing. With a small smile Tom closed his trunk, now ready to go to Hogwarts.

            "Hey ya Riddle." Benny called from the doorway. "So ya goin' off to that school then hu?"

            "Obviously." Tom answered with out turning.

            "So this school, Hogwarts right? Well does it... I mean will you...well...uh...will they keep you all year?"

            "I suppose so."

            "So you won't be coming back right? Not that I..."

            "Why are you asking me so many ridiculous questions?"

            "Uh...well, I was just uh curious, you know." Tom sighed dramatically.

            "If you must know I will be there all year..." behind Tom's back Benny began to smile, "...but I'll be back for the summer." Benny's face fell. "And then of course..."Tom continued"...I'll know different things, you know, different spells or and what not." Benny had learned several weeks ago that Tom was going to a wizarding school to learn magic and then eventually become a wizard. Benny had tried to tell everyone at the orphanage that Tom was a soon-to-be wizard, but nobody believed him. To stop everyone from spreading their own rumors about Benny's insanity, he had to tell them it was all just a big joke. Benny was previously unaware that Tom knew any of this. He now grew very pale. Tom turned to face Benny with a fake pleasant look plastered on his face. "Perhaps when I return I can show you some spells. Won't that be fun? Well, I got to run, have a great year, see you next summer. I'm sure you'll be waiting, I know I will be." With that, Tom walked past Benny and out of the room without so much as glancing back.

Tom chuckled under his breath while imagining the look of absolute horror that must have spread over Benny's dumb face.  He had better enjoy the time he had with out Tom that he could, because when Tom returned, he was sure he could think of ways to amuse himself. 

The past month Tom had gone to the library             every day.  All he read was history books.  He now knew nearly all information that any wizard would know growing up in a wizarding home.  No one at the school would be able to guess that Tom had lived his entire life with muggles.  That was exactly as Tom had wanted it. 

"Hey you, boy!  Are you the kid I'm taken?"  A grumpy looking man stood outside by a worn looking vehicle glaring at Tom.  "Well kid?  Are you goin' ta the station or not?"

"I am."  answered Tom, walking forward pulling his trunk.

"Well kid, put your stuff in the back."  Tom obediently placed his trunk in the back and got in the backseat.  Tom figured that this was not going to be a very pleasant drive.  He sighed and rolled his eyes.  He shifted so that his body faced the window and glared out.  The driver proceeded to ramble on about how he didn't see why he should have to drive to the train station and complained about all the things he had to do, which consisted of cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing blinds.  Tom tuned him out, but his constant wining soon drove Tom mad and he could stand it no longer.

"Do you always complain so much?" 

"What?"  the man was obviously surprised to be spoken to in such a manner.

"Oh, I see your hearing is fading.  I spoke quite clearly."

"No, I heard you.  I just…"

"You're just too stupid to understand what I was saying?"

"Nnnno.  It's not that kid.  It's just…"

"All right sir.  Since you are too stupid to understand, let me put it into terms that your apparently simple mind can comprehend.  You are being quite irritating.  I understand that you might not want to drive for the entire forty minutes, and that you obviously have such important things you can be doing instead, but you do not need to sit there and complain about it, and certainly not to me.  I can do nothing to assist your unfortunate situation, nor do I have any desire to.  If you want to complain, do it to someone who can improve your situation, like your boss perhaps.  Though I might suggest that if you do so, do it in a much more courteous manor than the bitching and moaning you were formally doing."  The driver was silent for several moments.  He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again.  He was silent for the rest of the drive.  Tom couldn't manage to stop his very pleased grin that spread over his face.  Ah, the power of intelligence. 

When they reached the train station the driver got out and immediately got Tom's trunk out for him.  He then opened Tom's door. 

"Do you want me to take your trunk for you?"  The man asked, keeping his eyes to the ground.

"No that's all right.  I can take it from here.  Thanks for the ride."  Tom turned and as he headed into the station he could feel the driver's eyes continually on his back until he turned the corner.  Tom decided that the driver was a strange man, and very stupid, even for a muggle.  But the man's intelligence was of no concern to Tom.  He had to deal with things that were actually important, like getting to the train.  Tom pulled out the ticket from his pocket.  Hogwarts Express: Platform Nine and Three Quarters.  Tom frowned.  Why hadn't he noticed that before?  Platform Nine and Three Quarters?  Tom sighed and began wheeling his trunk so he was between platforms nine and ten.  No platform nine and three quarters, what a surprise.  Tom decided not to even bother with asking someone, they'd all be muggles and of course they'd think Tom were mad even mentioning such a platform.  No, the best idea was just to stay put.  Tom couldn't be the only student attending Hogwarts, surely sooner or later a witch or wizard would come to board the platform.  When they did, Tom could see how they got on to the platform so he could do it as well.   Tom didn't have to wait for very long.  A young woman came strolling up with a tall, older man beside her.  Directly behind the couple were two teenage looking kids, one a boy and one a girl, each dragging trunks.  Behind them was a younger boy who dragged a trunk as well.  The boy had wide eyes and was looking around fearfully.  Tom stepped forward slightly, but making sure the family wouldn't notice him.

"All right children come on, lets go…"

"Mum, I don't feel so well."  The fearful looking boy said.

"Oh come on!  You're not still wining are you Doug?  We've told you dozens of times, it's not that bad.  It's fun even.  It's no reason to be afraid."  The teenaged girl said looking very irritated.

"I'm not wining!  And I'm not afraid!  I'm sick.  Very sick.  Really, I am.  I don't think I'll be well for quite some time.  Can't I just wait until next year?  Please Mum?"

"No, absolutely not.  And stop all this wining Douglas.  I told you, it will be fine.  Besides, you brother and sister will be there to help you."

"Sure, they'll help me all right."  Douglas mumbled. 

"Stop being such a baby Doug.  I'm off."  The girl said.  She strode quickly right at the wall, then disappeared into it.  Tom's eyes widened slightly.  He probably should have read a book on this.

"I'm going too.  Come on Douglas, you can't be a Mumma's boy all your life."  The teen boy too disappeared.  Now Douglas' eyes began to widen.

"Mum, I really don't want to do this.  In fact, I don't think I can."

"Of course you can Douglas.  You just have to believe that you can…"

"Oh Sarah stop.  Just tell the boy to do it and let's be on with it."  The older man interrupted.  Sarah glared at the man.  He stepped back and walked quickly to the wall.

"I'll see you on the other side."  He mumbled right before he disappeared.  Sarah turned to her son.

"All right Douglas, now it's your turn.  Just go ahead, don't be afraid.  You can do it."  Douglas took a deep breath and hurried to the wall.  Tom prepared to see the boy disappear, but instead, he saw the boy ram into the wall and lay on the ground.

"Douglas!"  The woman cried she hurried to her son and knelt beside him. 

"Is he all right?"  Someone asked.  There was soon a large crowd of muggles around the boy and his mother.  Someone who worked at the station helped Douglas up and proceeded to take him away, probably to a nursing station of some kind.  Sarah followed, protesting that she could handle the situation, her cries were ignored.  As soon as the crowd dispersed Tom went over to the wall to examine it.  Inwardly he chuckled at the hopeless boy.  Why on earth did they allow people like that into Hogwarts anyway?  Tom wasn't quite sure, but the idiot boy was not his problem.  His problem was getting on to the platform.  Tom touched the wall; it felt solid enough.  Tom frowned, how on earth was this suppose to work?  Tom stared at the wall and tried to examine the situation logically.  He held up his hand and closed his eyes.  There is no wall.  There is now wall.  He silently chanted this several times.  His hand moved forward and he continued to inwardly chant.  Tom straightened his hand forward.  He opened his eyes and saw his arm was through the wall!  Tom took his hand out of the wall and nodded.  He walked backwards several paces.  He closed his eyes and walked swiftly at the wall.  When Tom opened his eyes, he was on Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

The platform was certainly an interesting place.  It was just as interesting as Diagon Alley, maybe more so.  There were older looking students who stood by their parents and siblings who looked bored and who just wanted to go.  There were younger looking students who were gazing about fearfully and standing very close to their parents.  It was very obvious who the muggleborns were, they were all looking about stupidly.  Just as Tom thought this he shifted his eyes down.  No need to attract attention.  Tom walked to the train and boarded.  As he walked down the isle, he found a compartment near the back which was empty and got in.  He sat next to the window so he could watch the other students with out looking muggle-ish.  When he looked, he noticed the Doug boy standing with his family.  So he had gotten through; Tom couldn't confide a grin.  Doug's brother and sister were laughing and he was turning red.  Tom figured they were teasing him about his not being able to get through the barrier, as well they should.
            "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?"  Tom turned and saw a girl standing in the doorway of his compartment.  She had sea green eyes.  Her blonde hair went just above her shoulders. "Well?"  She asked again when Tom didn't answer.

"No, no one's sitting here."

"Well do you mind?"  Tom shook his head.

"Thanks."  The girl opened a compartment and started to lift her trunk but dropped it.  She looked at Tom as if he was rather odd.  "Would you mind helping me with this?"  She asked.  Tom got up and walked over.  He helped the blonde lift her trunk, then went to sit back down and turned his attention back out the window again.  The blonde sat down across from him.  She folded her legs, then refolded them.  "So what year are you in?"  Tom glanced over at her, then turned back to the window.

"First."

"Really?  So am I."

"Good to know."  The girl looked at the floor.  This was one strange boy. The whistle on the train sang; only ten more minutes left until departure.  Tom reverted his attention back to Douglas' family.  The two teens hugged each of their parents and prepared to get on the train.  Douglas grabbed his mother's hand and began to cry.  The teens looked in horror at their younger brother.  They then turned and quickly got on the train without looking back.  Douglas' father looked like he wanted to die.  His mother knelt down and whispered several things in his ear.  She kissed his cheek then took her hand from his.  She stepped back and her husband stepped forward grabbing the boy's arm and began to literally drag him to the train.  Douglas screamed and reached toward his mother sobbing.

"No!!!!  Mum!  Mum!  I don't want go!!  Please!!!  Mum!!!!"  His cries could be heard from anywhere on the platform or train.  Everyone still on the platform turned to look at him.  His father shoved him on the train, actually handing him to an attendant on the train. Then he hurried through the barrier and disappeared.  The blonde in Tom's compartment had leaned forward to look at the screaming boy.

"Poor kid."  She said sympathetically.  Tom looked at the girl oddly.  'Poor kid'?  How pathetic.  The boy should be beaten or something equally punishing.  Crying because he was leaving his Mommy?  He was worse then Fredrick.  Tom felt very sorry for the boy's older siblings, how embarrassing for them. 

"Hey, ya mind if sit in here?"  Tom turned to see yet another girl standing in the doorway of his compartment.  This one had short brown hair that went just bellow her ears and brown eyes.  She had to be a first year, she didn't look more than eleven.  

"Go ahead."  Tom answered looking at her.  She went to lift her trunk.

"Do you need some help?"  The blonde offered, glancing at Tom before looking at the new girl.

"Naw I got it."  She glanced at the blonde.  "Besides, we wouldn't want to break one of those pretty little nails would we?"  The blonde's eyes widened and she looked down.  The new girl laughed and put her trunk up.  She entered the compartment and sat down next to Tom.

"So you're both first years huh?"

"Yes we are."  The blonde answered.  "Are you?" 

"Ya.  Kinda thought that was a given, but whatever."  The blonde looked down again. 

"My name is Biana.  Most people call me Ana."  There was no response from Tom or the new girl.  "What are your names?"  She asked after a moment. 

"Samirah."  The new girl replied.  "Samirah Kellen."

"Oh, my last name is Roth.  Ana Roth."  She paused, then after a moment she asked: " So what's your name?"

"Tom Riddle." 

"Nice to meet you Tom, Samirah." 

"Uh hu."  Samirah replied looking at Ana. 

" Pardon me, are you the only three in this compartment?"  A man asked poking his head in the door.

"Yes, it's just us three."  Ana answered. 

"Good.  All right boy, sit in here."  The man lifted a trunk up and gently pushed a boy into the compartment.  Tom had to stifle a groan.  It was Douglas, the screaming crying boy from the platform.  Douglas looked around the compartment, his eyes still red and puffy.  He went and sat next to Ana and turned to look out the window.  He caught sight of his mother and waved to her.  His eyes didn't divert from her until the train began to pull away from the station.  She waved back and she got smaller and smaller.  When Douglas could no longer see her several tears slid from his eyes. 

"Oh it'll be all right."  Ana said giving him a smile.  "I hear Hogwarts is a great place."  He sniffed.

"Are you that kid that was hollerin' earlier?"  Samirah asked looking at Douglas.  His eyes widened and he nodded.  "What are ya cryin' for anyway?"  The boy shrugged.

"I don't know.  I've never wanted to go to Hogwarts.  I just want to stay home.  With…"  he stopped.

"With your Mommy?"  Samirah finished with a smirk.

"He didn't say that."  Ana protested.  "I'm sure that isn't the only reason he's upset."  She turned to him.  "So what's your name?"  He sniffed again.

"Doug Williams." 

"I'm Ana Roth.  That's Samirah Kellen and Tom Riddle."  Tom glared at her.  When did she ask him if it was all right to tell this idiot boy his name? 

"So Dougie, ya ever been from home before?"  He shook his.

"From the way he's acting I should have thought that was a given, but whatever."  Ana snipped.  Tom couldn't help but laugh.  Samirah narrowed her eyes at Ana and was about to something but paused.  Then she laughed.

"All right girl you got me.  Good one."  Ana smiled.  Ana turned to Doug and started asking him several different questions to make him feel more comfortable.  It seemed to work.  Samirah tossed in a smart comment every now and then but for the most part was quiet.  Tom said nothing.  He just observed the other members in the compartment.  Doug was wining sniveling little wimp who Tom suspected wasn't going to be very good at magic.   Samirah was smart and cocky.  Tom couldn't help but like her instantly.  This was very odd; Tom had never really liked anyone before.  There wasn't one single person he even didn't mind at the orphanage.  But he liked Samirah.  Ana was, unusual.  Tom's first instincts were to not like her at all because of her sweet sensitive loving manner that no doubt extended to muggles.  But there was something about her that made Tom unsure about her.  She was sweet and kind, but had a kind of look in her eye, or perhaps not.  Tom wasn't actually sure.  All he knew is that his opinion about Ana Roth had yet to be formed, but perhaps it would be very shortly.