The Girl Who Loved Tom Riddle 7

Changes

After thinking about how he acted earlier, Tom realized that the dream was some kind of message from his mother. He just thrown out the only friends he ever had. His painful dream was no excuse for that. Something was changing in Tom Riddle. He felt more at home in the walls of Hogwarts than at the orphanage. In a couple of months, he'd have to go back to that place again. He hated it there.

Tom took the time to open the presents from his friends alone in the Hospital Wing. After finding what generous gifts they got him, he brought the treasures back to the Slytherin Common Room.

"I just want to apologize for the way I acted earlier," he began. "I'm sorry. I've had a lot on my mind lately."

"That's okay, Tom," said Olive.

"Thanks for the presents," he continued. "I never had a real birthday before."

"Now you're going to," Alaric said ostentatiously. "Better than at that orphanage. Who'd ever want to live there?"

--

The rest of term went way too fast for Tom Riddle. His time at Hogwarts was better than all his years at the orphanage. He got full marks on all his final exams and scored points for his house. It wasn't enough to win the House Cup but they were really close and came in second place. Gryffindor had won the House Cup again. He looked over at the Gryffindor table to where his rival Jacob Potter was sitting. Jacob Potter had dirty blond hair that had a mind of its own and sterling blue eyes, a witch mother and muggle father who thought the world of him and a great handful of friends. Tom hated the fact that Jacob's father was a muggle just like Tom's was, but did Jacob's father, Jason leave Jacob's mother, Rebecca? Absolutely not. Tom heard Jacob talking about himself to other students.

"My mother was a good witch and everything but she always had a fascination for muggles," Jacob said. "So she married one. Of course, she told my father everything about herself before he even had a chance to pop the question. They were made for each other. My father's a doctor and he thinks magic is wonderful. Sometimes he even asks my Mum for help in the operation room!"

Tom would do anything to hear his father say he loved magic.

Tom didn't like him since the first potion lesson with both Slytherin and Gryffindor house. When the Potions teacher, Professor LeStrange, was favoring the Slytherins a bit too much and criticizing the Gryffindors for no reason at all, Jacob Potter opened his big mouth and shouted, "What kind of teacher are you?"
Tom could still remember the first year Gryffindors grinning and nodding, the other Slytherins gasping and Professor LeStrange having a very shocked expression on his face. No one every talked back to a teacher before. Tom might have been the Heir of Slytherin, but Jacob Potter, on the other hand, had something Tom Riddle would never have. Courage.

When Tom screamed at night and shaking with terror from his horrible nightmares down in the cold dungeons, Jacob Potter was sleeping fast asleep in the comfortable dorms of the Gryffindor tower. Jacob Potter was not afraid of the dark forest or any of the creatures in it, when Tom Riddle was too afraid to anywhere near the place. Tom Riddle was scared to death of the Transfiguration teacher, Albus Dumbledore but Jacob Potter admired him as if he were his great grandfather or something. In short, Jacob Potter was everything Tom wasn't, but at the same time, wished he could be. Tom would switch places with Jacob in a heartbeat, just so he could be in a loving family. It did help, however, that he wasn't the only person in the school who had a problem with Jacob Potter. Alaric Malfoy didn't like him much either or anyone else from Gryffindor House. Unless the person was a Slytherin with magic roots that went more than five generations and Galleons up to their ears, he or she was not worth his time.

Tom growled at the red and gold decorations in the Great Hall. The food didn't look so good now and he chose not to eat. Tom was going to work damn hard not to let Gryffindor beat Slytherin again. He'll do whatever it takes to get Slytherin House to win the House Cup every year. He did not care if he had to cheat, lie, steal or even worse, kill to be the best student Hogwarts ever had, Tom was going to do it. Tom was going to show his true colors and it did not matter to him what it did to everyone else in the school. In his opinion, half of them didn't even belong here, the muggleborn half.

--

Tom handed his trunk and owl cage to the man by the baggage cart, took one last look at the place he really thought as home, sighed and headed to sit with Alaric in one of the compartments. Tom certainly was not looking forward going back to that stupid orphanage for three, long painful months. Tom stared at the window as Alaric talked about how he was so relieved about leaving the school.

"Can you believe how much homework they gave us?" Alaric demanded. "Especially that Dumbledore. How are we supposed to do an essay on transforming toothpicks into matches if we're not even allowed to do magic away from school? I keep wishing they'd change that rule. I'm glad I'm going back home so I can sleep when I want, eat what I want…Hogwarts is okay, but it can make you crazy after a while!"

Tom groaned and turned to Alaric. "I'm sorry I don't agree with you, Alaric. But not everyone lives in a manor."

"Oh," Alaric said. "I forget, you have to go back to the orphanage."

Tom nodded. "There are a couple of guys there that like to pick on me. They used to be my friends until all my magic powers started to show through."

"If we were allowed to do magic away from school," Alaric began, "then you should curse them. Or tell them about Crabbe and Goyle."

"Yeah."

"I know," Alaric grinned, "Why don't you come to my family's manor this summer?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. You'll love it there, Tom," Alaric said excitedly, "our manor is huge! We've got six house elves, stables, a private Quidditch field, and under our study we have a lot of cool Dark Arts stuff. It's definitely better than that orphanage you go to."

"Will I be sharing your room?" Tom inquired.

Alaric laughed as if he were insulted and tickled at the same time. "Sharing my room? No, Tom. I know you're probably sick of sleeping in the same room with other boys. I know I would be—sleeping in the dorm with Crabbe, and Goyle, hearing them snore—I was tempted to go in the common room and sleep on the couch!"

"I think you did do that a couple of times," Tom said ponderingly.

"That's, right, I did," said Alaric. "They got pretty bad. Oh, right…you won't have to share my room with me, Tom. It's big enough for the two of us, but after sleeping with so many people in the same room for 12 years, you'll be wanting your space."

"Thanks," Tom breathed.

"And you won't just be having your own room, Tom," Alaric grinned. "You can have your own wing! We'll assign you a house elf to do all your work for you. You'll have your own bed and bathroom. Breakfast in bed if you want it…"

Tom couldn't help grinning. "When can I come?"

"I'll talk to my parents as soon I get home," he replied. "My uncle Fredrick will be picking me up."

"Wow," said Tom. "Can't wait."

The rest of the train ride was much more pleasant as Alaric went on explaining about his manor and how excited he was to have Tom stay. Tom followed Alaric out with his belongings and Tom waved goodbye to his other friends as he saw them with their families. Tom stopped dead when he saw Jacob Potter in the arms of his muggle father, witch mother looking on with a smile. Mrs. Potter had curly sandy brown hair just like Jacob's and warm honey eyes. Jacob had his father's sterling blue eyes and dark brown hair, styled like Jacob's.

"Proud of you, son," said Jacob's father. "Why don't you show me a thing or two when we get home?"

"I'm not aloud to do magic outside of school, dad," said Jacob with a smile. He caught Tom staring at him. "Hello, Tom."

Tom didn't reply and he didn't have to for Alaric was pulling him away. "I think my uncle's outside waiting for me. I'll introduce you to him."

"Thanks," said Tom, following Alaric outside to where his uncle was waiting for him, holding a glove as a portkey.

"Uncle Fredrick, this is Tom Riddle," Alaric introduced.

"Pleasure," said Alaric's uncle. "Alaric, the portkey is about ready. We have to go where muggles don't notice us leave."

Before Tom asked, Alaric told him what a portkey and followed his uncle around the corner just as he saw Mr. Paten bring the team up.

"Hello, Tom," said Mr. Paten. "I haven't kept you waiting long, have I?"

"No sir," Tom answered.

"Well, then, we'd better get going." Mr. Paten smiled. "I know a little girl who's been waiting to see you!"

Tom smiled back and jumped up on the carriage next to Mr. Paten. He had almost forgotten all about little Sarah. It was the only thing worth coming back to the orphanage.

Sarah helped getting the orphanage in shape to surprise Tom. She planted new flowers in the flowerbeds, cleaned the floors and windows and after she did all that, she hurried upstairs to get washed up.

She was so excited now that Tom was coming back. Now it would be just like old times. While pulling on her best dress, she heard Tom come in with Mr. Paten. Miss Smith was welcoming him back. Sarah gasped happily and ran down the stairs to see Tom standing at the foot of the stairs with Miss Smith, telling her how he enjoyed himself at school.

"Tom!" Sarah cried joyfully, hopping down the steps. "You're back!"

Hearing Sarah's sweet and happy voice, Tom turned and smiled. "Hi, Sarah."

Sarah laughed and jumped in Tom's arms, almost knocking him to the floor. Tom chuckled and pulled her up.

"I've missed you, Tom," said Sarah. "Did you have fun at the magic school? Tell me everything!"

"Sure," Tom said, walking up with her. "I had a lot of fun…wow…the orphanage sure looks nice."

"Yeah," Sarah grinned, "I wanted to surprise you!"

"Well, I'm surprised."

"Really?"

"Really."

"You mean it?"

"I mean it."

"Oh, Tom!"

Regardless of the changes in Tom's heart, he still showed doting kindness to Sarah and told her about the fun things about Hogwarts while holding her in his lap. Bobby and Pete still picked on him but Tom knew how to threaten them with a tongue-tying curse, even though he could not do it. It didn't matter though, because in the second week of July, Alaric's pedigreed eagle owl came to Tom with a letter.

"Maybe Alaric got his parents to say I could come over!" Tom said excitedly, opening the letter and reading it with interest.

Tom,

Sorry I'm writing you so late. My father was not at the mansion when I got home. He had some kind of business to take care of and he didn't return until a week after school let out and he was still pretty busy about that. My father is a school governor. I really don't understand how his job works.

But I asked my mother about when as soon as I came back home and she said it was all right with her as long as it was all right with my father. My parents don't like letting people we don't know stay at the mansion but when I told my father who your mother was he gave me permission to let you stay at our manor for the rest of the summer! He has even agreed into taking you to Diagon Alley with us.

My dad and I will come for you this Friday morning. See you then.

Alaric

Grinning, hand shaking with excitement, Tom grabbed another piece of parchment and wrote the reply.

Alaric,

That's great! The sooner the better. I can't wait to see your mansion. I've been bragging to Bobby and Pete about it already.

See you Friday.

Tom

Tom was still grinning even when he tied the letter to the owl's leg and sent it off with his reply. He couldn't wait until this Friday. Now being in the orphanage after his first year in Hogwarts was more difficult than when he left. Tom missed the wizard world so much he thought he was going to die.

--

"Where do you think you're going, Riddle?" Bobby demanded as he saw Tom, fully dressed, gather all of his stuff three hours before dawn.

"I'm going to stay in a mansion for the rest of the summer," Tom bragged, steering his trunk to the door.

A mansion?"

"That's right," he said. "My friend Alaric is very wealthy. Wizards don't just do magic, you know…they have careers."

"Bull."

"It's true," Tom insisted. "And they don't like muggles much so I should wait outside for them or Mr. Malfoy might put a nasty hex on you and you don't want that, do you, Bobby?" Grinning Tom walked outside on the porch and waited for Alaric. He wondered how they were going to get here. Alaric didn't mention floo powder or a portkey. In fact, Alaric didn't mention how he was coming. Perhaps Alaric was too excited to tell him and Tom was too thrilled to even ask. Then right in front of him, a stagecoach without horses appeared right in front of Tom. The door opened and Alaric jumped out of the stagecoach.

"Hi Tom," Alaric grinned. "Father, this is Tom."

"Hello, sir," said Tom.

"So…you're Carrie's son," said Alaric's father.

"Yeah," Tom replied. "Carrie Star was my mother."

"Come on, Tom," Alaric urged, "you can put your stuff in here."

He opened a compartment to hold all of Tom's belongings and he hopped inside with Alaric and his father. Alaric closed the door and his father tapped his wand on the ceiling and muttered, "Home."

The stagecoach started to rumble, spin and before Tom could ask what was going on, they landed in a total different area. Grinning at the boy he wished were his brother, Alaric put his hand on the doorknob and pushed it down to open the door.

"Tom, welcome to Malfoy Manor," he said and opening the door and jumping out on lush green grass, holding his hand out behind him to show off his property.

"Wow!" Tom exclaimed, pulling himself out of the stagecoach. "This is beautiful! Everything is so green!"

"Wait until you get inside," Alaric's father smiled, walking to the gate.

Tom made a double look. They were just outside Malfoy Mansion's gigantic stonewall. A couple of house elves were hurrying out of the gate to greet their master.

"Master, you is returned!"

"Bring the coach to the stables," Alaric's father ordered, "and take my our guest's belongings to his wing."

"Yes, master."

"And be quick about it!"

Tom felt pretty sorry for the small little creatures as Alaric's father looked as if he were going to kick them through the gate. Tom followed Alaric inside the gate and gasped. It was even better inside the wall. Just like Alaric said, there were stables, a private Quidditch field and an orchard of fruit trees and in the middle of the square was the Malfoy Manor. It was about three stories high and twice that much wide. If it looked so big on the outside, Tom could only imagine what it was once he set foot inside of it. Alaric gave him a tour of the grounds and Mr. Malfoy left the boys alone, to make sure the slaves did their jobs right, no doubt.

Alaric showed Tom the stables where a dozen horses were standing, and eating. As Alaric talked about how long they had the horses, their breeds and everything, Tom was opening each gate to pet the horse and brush their hair.

"What're you doing, Tom?" Alaric demanded. "The house elves are supposed to do the grooming."

"It's okay. I love grooming horses. We have stables at the orphanage," Tom explained, "two horses and a carriage. That's all we've got for transportation. They're Paten's…sometimes I help him with them and when the teasing from Bobby gets to be too much, I'll just go out for a ride."

"I wonder what you're like on a broomstick," said Alaric.

"Don't you remember what happened at our first flying lesson?" Tom inquired. "I fell right of the end when I straddled it…most embarrassing moment of my life."

"The school brooms are no good," Alaric said. "That's what it was. You just need a good broom. We've got the best. Comet 140's. We can have a broomstick race while you're here."

"Sure," Tom smiled. He looked at the far end of the stables where one of the horses was laying on its side asleep. "What's wrong with that horse over there?"

"What?" Alaric turned to the sleeping horse. "Oh, that's Black Runner. He's kind of wild. My father's trying to break him but he's not having much luck. So we keep him asleep. Hey, don't go near him, Riddle! He'll kick you into next week!"

Alaric grabbed for Tom's arm but Tom continued walking to the tied up black stallion. "So tht's why you keep him tied up?"

"Yeah, or he'll knock the door down."

"I can break him for you," Tom said.

"You crazy?" Alaric demanded. "He's wild…you can't break him. We've had Black Runner for years. We're going to sell him someday if we can't break him."

"I'm serious, Alaric," Tom insisted, "I can break horses. I've worked with them all the time at the orphanage with Mr. Paten. I know a lot about horses."

"You think you can break Black Runner?" Alaric asked, grinning as he leaned against a post.

"Well, I can try," Tom said. "I've worked with wild ones before…"

Black Runner woke up, startled and tried to buck the door down, stood up on its hind legs, neighing angrily.

"Watch out!" Alaric shouted, pulling Tom away. "See? I told you. Black Runner is wild. You won't be able ot break him, Tom. But we've got other good stallions here you can ride."

"He doesn't like being tied up," Tom said, watching Black Runner tug from the post. "You need to put him in a place where can run around and work off his energy."

"Are you crazy?" Alaric demanded. "Leave him run amok inside our wall? He'll tera up everything!"

"I mean like a fence, Alaric," Tom muttered. "You've got one." He nodded to the fence;

"Oh." Alaric said. "Well, I don't think you'll be able to break him anytime soon. Come inside. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry."

"Yeah, I'm starved," Tom admitted. "I didn't have breakfast this morning."

"Well come on in and let's eat," Alaric grinned.

"Lead the way," Tom said, grinning back.

The inside of Malfoy Mansion was definitely more spacious. Tom wished there were a map set up somewhere so he knew where he was going. He'd get lost for sure had not Alaric was showing him around. There was a great large room of family portraits and fencing coils.

"We don't just duel with wands," Alaric boasted, "we know how to fence too. I'll fence with you after we eat."

"Okay," Tom said. "Sounds like fun."

Alaric continued the tour until they got to the dining room on the first floor. "Mimmy!" Alaric shouted at one of the houseless. "My guest and I are hungry! Bring us food!"

"Alaric, do you have to be so rough with them?" Tom asked, noticing the house elf run off to begin cooking, looking really scared.

"It makes them work faster," said Alaric coolly, as if it were all right to treat the house elves like they were dirt.

The lot of house elves scurried to set the table with fine brunch items Tom has only eaten at Hogwarts. Tom had manners and thanked the elves for the meal as Alaric complained his was not good enough. For a minute there, Tom was glad his mother didn't marry Alaric's father, Darien Malfoy or Tom would've turned out to be a selfish, rich and spoiled brat. Tom loved the Malfoy manor. It was better than the orphanage, that was for sure and at times, it was better than Hogwarts. Still, Tom was humble and though he didn't have any parents to guide him, his mentors and the grownups at the orphanage taught him the importance of good manners, read to him the bible. With all the money Alaric's family had, couldn't he have afforded some manners?

Tom didn't dwell on t too much. After all, Alaric was his friend and acted like a brother to him. He invited him to his lovely home and played with him, dueled with him in the dueling room, showed him his toys and pets. It was strange though. He was the only child in this house. Why did he not have any brothers or sisters? Was it because Mr. Malfoy just wanted one child--just a son to keep the Malfoy name going? They certainly could've afforded more children. After hours of playing inside, Alaric took Tom back outside for a broom ride and a crash course in Quidditch.

"I'm thinking of joining the Quidditch team next year," Alaric said, leading him to the shed where they kept the brooms and Quidditch supplies. "What about you, Riddle?"

"Aren't the positions full already?" Tom asked. "No one from the Quidditch team graduated last year."

"Ulysses Flint, the chaser is graduating next year." Alaric shrugged.

"You want to take his old position as a Chaser?"

"Yeah. Or maybe I'll a Seeker. I'd like to be the one who wins the game…gets the gold…Seekers get all the glory."

"Yeah, and they get bloodied up more than anyone else," Tom said. "Justin Higgs almost got his got his brains knocked out in the last game."

"What position would you take, Tom?" Alaric inquired as they went on the field, carrying the chest containing the Quaffle, two bats, two Bludgers and the golden Snitch.

"Alaric, I'm a terrible flier," Tom moaned. "You saw me in all those flying lessons. I won't be able to play anything."

"You should try to be a Seeker," Alaric suggested.

Tom nearly dropped the chest. "Are you serious? I'll get killed five minutes in!"

"I'm joking," Alaric smiled. "I think you'd do better as a Keeper. They don't have to fly so much…they just sit there on their brooms, guarding the hoops. And you're built like one."

"We've got a good Keeper," said Tom. "Calvin Warrington and he'll be a fourth year. I'd have to wait until I'm a sixth year to become Keeper. I'm better with the books."

"Oh, you just have to practice a bit."

"How long have you been flying anyway?" Tom asked once they set down the chest.

"Oh, since I was like…four?" Alaric said, shrugging and scratching the back of his head. "Almost about the same time I learned how to walk. My dad gave me a toy broomstick to practice with. Let's fly around a bit, okay?"

"All right."

Though Alaric was great on a broom, Tom was not. Tom kept falling off his broom and couldn't keep control of it.

"It's too fast for me to control!" Tom shouted, after falling off for the hundredth time. "I need a slower broom to practice first. Do you have any?"

Alaric grinned. "Slower brooms? Give me a break, Tom. We've just got the fastest!"

"Do you still have that toy broom?" Tom asked.

Alaric's grin turned into a laugh. "You're thinking of riding it? Tom…that's for little kids! I grew too big for it when I turned eight!"

"I can't stay on this blasted thing," Tom muttered. "You got anything besides these Comet 140's?"
"Sure," Alaric said. "I have a Moontrimmer and a Cleansweep One."

"What's the difference?"

"The Moontrimmer was invited in 1901 and it can go higher now the Cl--,"

"I'll take the Cleansweep One," Tom said, handing him the Comet 140. "I don't want to fall from a thousand feet and break my neck."

"But the Cleansweep is kind of fast. Not so fast as the Comet 140."

"Fine."

But even with a slower broom, Tom was having difficulty. He couldn't' fly at the speed he wanted it to go and he felt very awkward o a broom. Tom was used to horses. All he used brooms for was sweeping dirt from the ground. It got worse when Alaric opened the chest and began using the equipment. Tom could hit a Bludger fine when he was standing on the ground. He played baseball a couple of times at the orphanage but when he was in the air, he lost his balance. He could also catch and throw the Quaffle when his feet were planted on the ground. Though he didn't do it very much, Tom played basketball a couple of times and he was built like a basketball player too. However, when up in the air, catching the Quaffle and throwing it was darn near difficult. Catching the snitch was impossible for Tom. He couldn't catch it, let alone find it flittering around in the sky. It was too small and fast. Tom found himself cursing madly when he was trying to catch up with it without falling off his broom again. Alaric was not helping either. Every time Tom fell off his broom or did a funny movement when he tried to throw and catch the Quaffle, or when Tom hadn't caught up with the speed and he kept shouting, "Whoa! Whoa!" Alaric would begin laughing.

"Alaric, it's not funny!" Tom snapped. "I'm no good at this! I'm surprised I haven't broken anything yet!"

"Oh, okay," Alaric said finally. "Let's go back inside. My house elves can clean you up."

Tom had a cut on his cheek and his body was aching. After a house elf put something to heal the cut on his cheek, Alaric told him to take a bath for dinner. Alaric even assigned a house elf named Dobby to do his work for him. Tom felt strange about having a little creature wait on him hand and foot. Dobby was younger than the other house elves, he was probably just a child but it was hard to tell. Tom didn't know how the creatures aged.

"Good sir, friend of young master Alaric Malfoy," Dobby said, laying down a bathrobe and towel for him as Tom went to take his bath. "These are for you…is there anything else Dobby can do for you, sir?"

"No thank you, Dobby," Tom said awkwardly.

"Enjoy your bath, sir."

"Please, call me Tom," Tom insisted.

"Yes, Tom, sir." Dobby said. "Dobby will come when you are ready to get dressed. Dobby will help sir get dressed for dinner."

"It's no trouble," Tom said.

"Dobby wishes master Tom Riddle to enjoy himself or Dobby will feel responsible."

"I am liking it here," Tom said. "You are a good house elf, Dobby."

"You are much kinder than my master," Dobby said and he looked quite scared. "Bad Dobby!" He grabbed the bar of soap and attempted to eat it.

"No, don't do that!" Tom gasped, grabbing it from him. "What was that for?"

"Dobby spoke ill of his master…"

"It's all right, I'm not going to tell Alaric on you are anything," Tom said. "I'll go take my bath."

"I've already drawn your water, Tom sir."

"Thank you, Dobby. I'll call you if I need you."

Dobby smiled and scampered out. Tom shut the bedroom door and walked into the bathroom. Just like Alaric said, he let him sleep in is very own wing with one of the house elves to serve him. The room was very large with a wardrobe of fine clothes, a desk and dresser and a comfortable bed and it came with a private bathroom a toilet, sink and bathtub. When he had to use the toilet during the middle of the night, he wouldn't even have to go into the hall. He'd just have to wake up and walk five feet.

Tom took off his clothes and sat down in the bathtub, sighing as the warm water began to relax his sore and tight muscles and looked around the room. It kind of reminded him of the Slytherin common room. The faucets were in the shape of a snake's head and there was a bath rug with snake on it. In, fact, the whole castle was very Slytherin-ish and gothic. Green and silver decorations all over the place, paintings of snakes, dark magic items, it would make some people nervous to be here but Tom felt like he was at home.

Tom smiled. Home. He really liked it here and it was going right for his first day. Maybe Mr. Malfoy will adopt him. He and Alaric already were like brothers. Now they could be brothers for real. But Tom decided to wait a while and get a feel of the mansion. He haven't even met Alaric's mother yet and he didn't talk to Alaric's father very much.

After a warm relaxing bath and being squeaky clean, Tom grabbed a towel, pulled the plug and dried himself off. Wearing a bathrobe, he went to the wardrobe to see what he could wear. The wardrobe was filled with nice dress robes, pants, suits, wizard wear and even the best muggle clothes.

"Wow," Tom mumbled, "I can get used to this place."

Tom picked out a set of green dress robes, combed his hair the best he could and walked out of the room, wondering if he could remember the way to the dining room. When he got lost, he called for Dobby.

"Dobby!"

There was a loud pop and Dobby appeared by his side. "Sir? What can Dobby do for you?"

"I'm…lost," Tom murmured. "Where's the dining room again?"

Dobby took Tom back down to the dining room but Alaric had not arrived yet but the house elves were cooking.

"Can Dobby get sir something?"

"Uh, sure. Thank you, Dobby. I guess some water while I wait for Alaric."

After sipping some water, Alaric finally came, wearing matching robes. "I see we've got the same taste in clothes," Alaric said, grinning.

"Where's your mum?" Tom asked. "I haven't met her yet."

"She likes to stay in her room and read sometimes," Alaric explained.

"If your father fancied my mother," Tom began, "who'd he marry?"

"Carrie's best friend, of course," Alaric said. "If you can't marry the girl of her dreams, go to her best friend."

"Who was that?"

"Serena Snape," he answered.

Mr. Malfoy stepped in the room, accompanied by his wife Serena. Tom gasped. She looked like his mother. She had the same blond curly hair but Tom noticed black bangs. That wasn't her natural hair. The woman actually had black hair but she was wearing a blond curly wig to look like Carrie Star. Darien Malfoy must've been obsessed with her so much that he married her best friend and ordered her to wear a wig so she'd look like Carrie.

"Good evening," said Mrs. Malfoy. "So, it is Tom?"

"Yes."

"Carrie was my best friend at Hogwarts," she said. "It's awful about her death."

"let's not speak about that, dear," Darien Malfoy muttered. "Ah, shall we eat?"

They ate at a long dinner table. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were at the ends and Tom and Alaric sat on the long sides of the table. Tom couldn't' help noticing Mrs. Malfoy. She didn't look very happy wearing the wig. Was she wearing it now so Tom thought his mother was still here or was did it make Mr. Malfoy believe Carrie was still alive?

Though the food was great, Tom wasn't very hungry. After a small desert, he asked Dobby to escort him back to his room.

"Dinner was lovely," Tom said, bowing. "Thank you. See you in the morning."

"This way, Tom," Dobby said, leading him back to the room. He got him a set of pajamas for him. "Anything else Dobby can do for Master?"

"No thanks, Dobby. I'm very tired."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Tom watched the house elf leave the room and Tom took off the clothes he wore to dinner, hung them up nicely back in his wardrobe and placed on the pajamas. After lying in the bed for a couple of minutes, going over how his first day at the Malfoy Mansion went, he finally drifted off to sleep.

--

Tom awoke a few hours after dawn when Dobby came into his room with a breakfast tray. "Morning, good sir. Dobby has brought you breakfast in bed!"

"But—I could just—go to the kitchen and—" Tom began, surprised. He had never gotten breakfast in bed before.

"Dobby brought the kitchen to you!" Dobby said excitedly. "Dobby was not sure what master wanted, so Dobby brought a little of everything. Eggs, toast and—"

"Thank you, Dobby," Tom said.

"If Master wants something else, let Dobby know!"

"Thanks."

Tom reached for his fork and started to eat. He couldn't help but smile thorough the whole meal. "This is the life!"

After breakfast, Tom met with Alaric outside for a horse ride. Tom wanted to try to ride Black Runner, but Alaric suggested him to ride one that was already broken. After riding around inside the wall for a while, they went outside to observe the countryside. Alaric was impressed with Tom's riding ability.

"You're better on a horse than a broomstick," Alaric put honestly. "But you can play Quidditch with them."

"Because when you say whoa to a horse," Tom said, leaning forward to stroke theo horse's neck, "it'll listen."

"I'm good on a horse too though," Alaric bragged.

"Care to race me then?" Tom asked, eyes glinting.

"All right then," Alaric grinned.

They raced around the place. Alaric was pretty good with a horse but he treated his steed the same way he treated his servants. But the way Tom rode with his horse, it was like they were one. Alaric was left out in the dust and shouting at his horse didn't help. After hours of horseback riding, Alaric admitted he wasn't as good on a horse as he was on a broomstick.

"I'm going inside," Alaric sighed. "You coming?"

"Nah, you go on ahead."

"All right then."

Alaric left and Tom continued to ride the horse and stopped at a stream to let it drink. He clicked his tongue to get the horse moving to a trot. Tom thought about going back to the stables and try to break Black Runner, the wild stallion. After riding the brown horse he was on now, he went to the stables, took off the saddle and went to Black Runner. Tom let it get to trust him a bit before opening the gate and letting him go.

Alaric was right about Black Runner. It was a wild horse but Tom was determined to break it. He took it by the bit and pulled him out of the stables.

"Come on," Tom muttered. "You'll like it better once you get in the ring."

Bringing Black Runner inside the ring was no easy task but he was able to get it inside so it could run around and work off his tension. Tom just sat on the fence and watched, trying to talk it down. It did not matter to Tom if he had to sit out here for the whole day, he was going to break Black Runner and ride him. Tom knew he could do it. Tom then locked the horse in an area to groom his mane, tail and fix his horseshoes. Black Runner was neighing like mad but Tom continued talking to it softly.

"You'll thank me when this is over, Black Runner," Tom insisted, "If you could talk. You're just upset because they kept you in that stable for so long and won't ride you."

Tom placed the blanket and saddle on Black Runner and pulled himself up just as Alaric was coming back outside.

"Tom, are you crazy?" Alaric demanded. "Riding him?"

"He hasn't kicked me in the head yet," Tom said. "Open the gate. I think he wants out."

"You're mental, you know that? Mental." Alaric shook his head but opened the gate, still the same. Black Runner tried to buck Tom off but he held on for dear life, trying to control it. Then, finally, it reared up and charged out of gate, Alaric chasing after him.

"Tom!" he shouted. "You're mental!"

The stallion ran around like it was possessed and yet Tom hung on tight.

"Alaric," Tom called, "open the steel gate to the wall. He'll do better if he's away from here!"

"You're going to die, Tom," Alaric muttered. "I'm telling you."

"Just open the damn gate!" Tom shouted.

Shocked, Alaric opened the gate and Tom steered the horse towards it.

"I'll be back when this horse is broken," he shouted.

"If you're still alive!"

It was hard to steer Black Runner but after awhile, not that it was away from Malfoy Mansion, it seemed to calm down and let Tom steer him wherever Tom wished. Tom couldn't believe he actually did it. Tom made the black stallion run to its fastest, speed, jump over fallen logs and stones and creeks. Tom loved the wind against his face. He felt like he was fling, really flying, and one with a once wild horse. It was better than riding on piece of wood. Tom had a special love for horses and they must've loved him back too or breaking Black Runner would've been impossible. By the time the sun was about to go down, Tom realized he should be getting back.

"Think you can go back home now?" he asked the wild stallion.

As if Black Runner understood him, it neighed and nodded his head. Tom laughed.

"Let's go then…"

Alaric was sitting on a bale of hay, waiting for Tom to arrive. He gasped and stood up when Tom came back.

"I don't believe it," Alaric gasped. "You actually got to break him."

"I told you I could break this horse," Tom smiled, patting its side. "I think he's tired. I rode him a lot. You should keep him in a different place in the stables for now on. Or out here at least. Black Runner doesn't like being cooped up. He likes being free."

"I'll keep that in mind," Alaric said, still breathless. "How—how did you do that?"

"I guess I have a way with horses," Tom said. "Well, I'm starving."

"You look like you need something to eat," Alaric suggested. "You've been with that horse all day!"

"Yeah, but it was worth it," Tom pulled himself down and brought it inside the ring, removing the reigns, blanket and saddle. "I really like this horse by the way."

"Maybe I should take him for a ride then," Alaric said, reaching for the horse and it neighed angrily, pushing his head toward him.

"I think I know why you're better on a broom, Alaric," said Tom.

While looking at Alaric's toys, the boys ate sandwiches, talking and gossiping.

"Alaric, you think your dad will adopt me?" Tom asked.

Alaric almost choked on his sandwich. "What?"

"I guess that's a no," Tom mumbled.

"I was just taken by surprise," Alaric said. "I don't know if he will…but…he's letting you stay this summer and he likes you. You can talk to him tonight and ask him!"

"Really?"

"Yeah. It's a good idea. Why live with those muggles forever?" Alaric said. "You can live here with us. We've got room! And you broke Black Runner. That's good enough to impress my father and I know my mother likes you. Yeah…that's a great idea, Riddle! You can stay here with me! We can tell him tomorrow morning. No, let's not sleep on this. Do it now! Go take bath wash that horse smell off you. My father might be with his study. Come get me and tell me how it goes!" he started pushing him out the door. "It's a perfect idea, Tom! You can become a Malfoy! You don't deserve you keep your filthy muggle father's name forever! No way!"

"You think your father would say yes?" Tom asked nervously.

"Positive! You belong here. Hurry. I'm excited."

"Yeah, I've always hoped a rich family would adopt me," Tom said. "I didn't want to go home with any farmers."

"Exactly. This is where you belong, Tom."

"I'll go to my room, uh, wing and then I'll talk to your dad."

"I'll find him for you," said Alaric, "and bring him the idea…. he'll have to talk to you afterwards. This is a great idea, Tom! You becoming my new brother! I'll go find my father."

"And I'll go find my room," said Tom. "It's the East wing, right? Oh…Dobby! I can't find my room again!"

To Be Continued