Chapter 2-Four years have passed A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. I didn't have much to do today, and I figure that by the looks of my calendar, I won't be updating for another week or so, so I decided to get in as much as I could while I didn't have anything to do. A little insight, it has been four years since Alessa has been at Hogwarts, that's where the story picks up.

Alessa sat amongst the other Hogwarts students in the Great Hall, waiting to hear the big speech given by Dumboldore, every new year. Alessa watched as the first years piled into the hall, terrified looking. Alessa remembered when she was first sorted four years ago into her house.it had been a nerve wrecking experience. But, here she was, four years later, a slytherin, warmed up to everything, who knew the school like the back of her hand, who sat watching the new batch of first years getting sorted. Alessa looked around the Great Hall at everyone. She hadn't seen them all in so long, it was glad to be seeing their faces again. Alessa had been alone all summer at Hogwarts; it was where she had lived, because she didn't have a home anymore. But, it suited her just well.

While glancing around the hall, someone of interest caught Alessa's eye. A slytherin boy sitting at the other end of the table, with raven colored hair, and dark eyes. He seemed to be isolating himself from everyone else. He was reading a book, and not paying attention to anything that was going on. Alessa immediately found herself attracted to the boy, faster then you could say "slytherin". A feeling flew through Alessa. She'd knew whom this boy was-Tom Riddle. He was a prefect, very smart, and was in Alessas class. Odd, how she never really noticed him before, even though he was in her class. But, then again, Tom was always very quiet, and he kept to himself all of the time. Alessa sat there contemplating whether or not he actually had any friends. Alessa admired him for his intellectual level and how handsome he was. Maybe after the sorting ceremony she'd find a reason to go over and talk to him.

The sorting ceremony and the feast seemed to last for hours. Alessa wasn't that hungry, and she kept waiting for it to end so she could talk to Tom. Alessa was thinking of ways to strike up a conversation with him. Maybe she'll "accidentally" knock into him. "Oh, I'm sorry about that." Then they'd have a conversation going. No, she was too shy to do anything. Alessa had talked to the herbology teacher over the summer while at Hogwarts, and she said that she had a big project for the fifth years. "You're to work with a partner on raising a shrewb. It's tough work, and counts as a big part of your grade." She had told Alessa. Tom and Alessa were both prefects, both had the top grades amongst the fifth years, so, why not work together? That's it; tomorrow after herbology Alessa had a reason to talk to him.