Harry Potter does not belong to me, but to J.K Rowling. Only some characters and plotlines of this fan fiction belong to me. Nothing more, nothing less…
Chapter 1
On the train
The loud whistle of the Hogwarts express echoed around the platform. Some last students still on it quickly said good bye to their parents and loved ones, hurrying to jump onto the train in time, before it set off, huffing white smoke, and sounding its whistle loudly.
Most parents still stood, smiling, grinning and waving, some teary eyed, as they watched their children embark on a new year, and a new challenge at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Slowly the platform disappeared out of sight, and already some waving parents had disapperated into the white billowing steam, that was issuing from the train.
In a compartment, at the end of the train, sat two girls. The black haired one stood at the window and waved excitedly at the disappearing station, then turned around to gaze at her friend.
"I can't believe that this is already our sixth year!" she shrieked. "It seems like only yesterday, when I was wearing that old shabby hat!"
Her friend snorted, "Yeah, the time has flown, to think how afraid I was, when I first found out that I was a Slytherin!"
They both gazed out of the window at the houses passing by at an enormous speed.
"I was so sad, my parents where so mad!" She giggled at the rhyme and twirled a long strand of blonde hair between her thumb and index finger.
"Come on Beth," the black haired girl retorted, "forget about your parents, they don't matter!" She threw back her ebony curls and stood up.
"I know, Eliza," Beth muttered, but she felt a dull ache in her stomach anyhow.
"Prefect," Eliza grinned wickedly, and opened the compartment door, "Tom, I can't believe it, you have received such an honor!"
The most handsome youth of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was passing the compartment, and he stuck his head in, when Eliza opened the door.
"Why so surprised?" He cooked and eyebrow, "I am the top student after all," he smiled arrogantly.
No one could deny his absolute perfect features. Tom was flawless, as far as all Slytherins where concerned, and no girl in Hogwarts, not even the teachers, could withstand his smiles, which where rare on any occasion.
Sadly Tom was a year younger than Beth and her friends, but that didn't stop him from being the head of their gang.
"Eliza, Bethany," he nodded at them and started along the corridor.
"Tom, wait!" Eliza smiled coyly. "Why don't you join us?" She held open the compartment door, stood aside as Tom strode into the compartment.
Beth's stomach gave an unpleasant jolt , but she was used to this.
She had always felt rather uncomfortable around Tom, and she didn't know why. It most certainly had something to do with his good looks, whenever she saw his eyes, her head felt weak and light.
But something else made her hair stand on end whenever Tom gazed at her, talked to her or simply passed her in the corridor, as if a cold chill followed his every step.
"Oh, Tom!" Eliza gasped and sat down on the seat opposite to him.
"I didn't expect any one else to get it, of course, you have the teachers eating out of your hands." She giggled and gazed at the silver badge glinting from the left side of his chest.
Whatever apprehension Beth felt toward Tom, Eliza didn't seem to share.
"How was your summer?" She smiled the most simpering smile Beth had ever seen in the many years of their friendship, but Tom seemed unaffected. No doubt he thought Eliza attractive; there was no boy in School who hadn't had a crush on her at least once in their time at Hogwarts.
Eliza was beautiful, she had high cheekbones, almond shaped green eyes, milky white skin, and soft raven curls that framed her face. Many men would have melted under her seducing gaze, but not Tom Riddle. He seemed unimpressed, nodding and telling them about his summer at the orphanage.
"The last time I set a foot in that place," he spat, and hissed loudly with anger.
"Dippet is going to pay for keeping me in there for so long!"
"But surely you could have escaped, you being such a good wizard and all." Beth said casually, trying not to look at his grey eyes.
"Sure, but he said that it would be best for me to go there, safest." Tom shook his head and grinned maliciously. "That old weirdo has no idea how much I hate him…"
He seemed to just catch himself before saying more.
"Well," Tom stood up and brushed his cloak stiffly. "I just wanted to tell you about our first meeting this year." Hastily Eliza stood up too, revealing her stomach as she stretched in a mock yawn. The small emerald jewel in her bellybutton ring sparkled in the morning light that flooded through the compartment window.
"Of course," she simpered and looked at him expectantly. Beth still sat, observing the two people in front of her.
"We are meeting in the room of requirement," he hissed these words under his breath, so no one listening from the next compartment could hear them.
"Twelve thirty, second day at school," he said and swiftly made his way out of the sliding door, looking back and catching Beth's eyes. She winced inwardly, but smiled as he nodded and left.
A year at Hogwarts, as she knew them well was yet again standing before her. But this year already looked a bit different. Eliza was craning her neck out of the compartment searching the corridor for any good looking seventh years, as usual. But Tom Riddles unusual interest in Beth, him actually glancing back at her as he left, made Beth curious. What was going to happen at this first meeting in the Room of Requirement?