AN - November 6th, 2005: Yay, and welcome back to the fiction that is currently at work in my completely unfathomable mind and computer. I don't know if I lost any readers, or if I GAINED any readers, but that's okay, since I'm a complete idiot anyways and don't really want to think of anything concerning the words 'loss' and 'gain'. ( sigh ) I think I have a weight problem...any ways...let's get back onto subject, hey hey hey! The third chapter of a fanfic that is probably going to turn out spectacularly long if Val gets off her lazy butt and posts back to me. ( attention-bringing cough ) You know, I really love people who read my AN. Because they know what's going on. And oh yeah. THE SORTING SONG FEATURED IN THIS FANFICTION IS MINE. Do not steal it. It took me like 2 seconds to write it.
Poisonous Reality: A review I got right off the bat after I submitted. I'm startin' to like you more and more. Marry me? xD ( hugs teh Poisonous Reality's munage and then runs off to complete the chapter that will probably not be as long as any of the others but that's okay )
Lady of the Light: Thanks for the review. Man, I think it is SO COOL that I get like, two reviews every single day in my email. WHOOGOPEOPLEYOUROCK! I hope I got your Penname right...I don't have the list right now...
Queen of the Badgers: I hate those kinds of stories. xD Ginny and Tom? Ewwww. Ginny was only a puppet for him to use so he could come back to power! Balaaarghrgrgr. ( Badger! ) Thanks for the review.
404: Yet another that I love so much now. I swear to god I'm gonna marry all of my reviewers. Sorry abou' that post in the reviews. Was telling someone something...
Only For You
By: Kifujin no STRAWBERRY
Chapter Three
Welcome Back to Hogwarts
There seemed to be nothing worse and time consuming to one in the Wizarding World who had not eaten for perhaps a day or two due to attempting to get all summer assignments done than sitting down in a large, spacious hall and waiting so very impatiently for the Headmaster to stand and make the customary beginning of the year speech. There were always those who had not even bothered to do the work at all, parchment stretched out in front of them as they scribbled and scrawled down what they hoped were the answers, blotting the parchment and smearing the ink, which did them no good when it came to the neatness category. There were quite a few at the Gryffindor table, actually - and it seemed that the Headmaster was only waiting for them to finish their homework.
How annoying.
Christine had chosen a seat the farthest from the staff table; she trusted none of them, least of all a certain Professor Dumbledore. He did not frighten her, and he did not awe her - she just did not like Albus Dumbledore. In fact, she had to bet that no one that had ever ended up in Slytherin had. Not Narcissa, not Lucius, not Evan or any of his little side kick buddies who found it hilarious to tease 1st Years and scare them out of their wits by performing only a few simple tricks with their wands, and certainly not her. He was odd and entirely too happy for her own sake; she would have rather sat as far away as possible from him, perhaps up in the Slytherin common room, if she could.
But apparently, you had to remind a student once a year that the Forbidden Forest really did live up to it's name in many extraordinary ways ( hence why they were making the same idiotic speech and making the older, less stupid students stay ). It was forbidden.
Tom Riddle, likewise to the female companion he had chosen to sit with - a certain Bellatrix Black, who looked at him so adoringly - had chosen one of the seats where all of his so-called friends could sit. Avery, Rookwood, Rosier, Black, Dolohov, Crabbe, Goyle...sitting silent, staring stonily at their plates and not once looking up to meet the smiling green eyes of the old Headmaster. In fact, the seven of them all together looked quite bored with the entire prospect of, in Rosier's opinion, 'this stupid little meeting where the idiot at the front of the room speaks and then we get to eat...we have to WAIT until he speaks to EAT'. Tom thought it most boring, though it did not stop him from talking to Bellatrix. She had much to report from her mother...
The entrance hall doors began to creak open - yes, the 1st Year students had finally arrived, some of them soaking wet from the lake that they had to cross ( one of the 1st Years was beaming wildly and yelling, 'I fell in! I fell in!' ), though the majority of them were dry. Tom caught a glimpse of the girl that he had supposedly helped on the train. She was looking around at the tables, her eyes wide, mouth slightly agape, before she disappeared into the swarming crowd of chatting little boys and girls.
"Aha, our newcomers have arrived!" Dippet tried to raise his frail, feeble voice, and several of the 1st Years jumped. "Welcome, students - ah, yes, I recognize you, your Gregory's boy...a fine Quidditch player - and yes, you are Nicole's child...quite a lovely young lady, though I still remember when she turned my nose into a strawberry--"
Several of the teachers at the staff table stifled a laugh and ended up coughing fakely to cover it up. Dumbledore just laughed heartily, and Christine and half of the Slytherin table wrinkled their noses at the sound.
"Now..." Dippet raised a hand, and the students quieted, directing their attention to their Headmaster. Heads turned from the Gryffindor table, and the voices that were still going were quieted by a look from the Potion's professor - a Mr. Horace Slughorn. "We've...welcomed you back to Hogwarts many times now, my older students, though to the small children standing in front of me, this is the beginning of an even greater adventure. Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - we bade you farewell the last time, though this time it is not so! We open our doors and our hearts to our students, young and old."
The old man paused for dramatic effect.
"Now, as you all know," Dippet continued on from that point, raising the emerald eyes that he possessed from the beaming, nervous faces of the children in front of him. "There have been rules that were set down by the Hogwarts founders that all need to obey and follow. The Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students of any year, regardless of whom they are and what their standing is. One must not jump into the lake, as the famous saying goes, for the giant squid has gotten very tired of picking up children and depositing them on the lake's shores. Hogsmeade trips will be taken over the weekends by the students of 3rd Year and up, provided that they have their permission slips signed by a parent or guardian to last through the next four years of Hogwarts. And without further ado as to add more to your hunger--"
Another dramatic pause that seemed even longer than before. Several students giggled.
"--we start the Sorting Ceremony."
The doors burst open, and in walked a slim, prim teacher, bespectacled and be-hatted, carrying a stool. Atop that stool stood a rather ragged, patched up old hat - ah, yes, Tom remembered this hat most clearly - The Sorting Hat; the object that Sorted those who were worthy into each of their corresponding Houses. He had not taken a step forward and that hat had named him Slytherin. He distinctly remembered the look in Dumbledore's eyes when it had done that... The teacher - a Professor Merrythought, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for this year and most likely the year after that - set the stool on the ground and dusted her hands off, turning her piercing, hawk-like eyes to the 1st Years gathered around Armando Dippet.
The hat began to move. One of the 1st Year girls squealed, 'Ewww! GROSS!' and a murmur of laughter travelled through the crowd. The hat moved again, and then a rip at the brim opened wide and...
The hat began to sing.
Welcome, welcome to Hogwarts
Please don't judge on what you see
For everything here is fairly different
Listen, and you'll understand me
Hogwarts is a school of companionship
So said the founders long ago
Hogwarts shall be a school of loyalty
Hogwarts shall help young minds grow
Four Houses are those you can go to
Four Houses where you can find home
Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw
With me you won't have to roam!
First on the list lies strong Gryffindor
The bravest come to dwell here
In your breast lies the heart of a lion
If your Sorted there
Second comes sly Slytherin
Cunning and smooth you must be
Intelligence and power is in your blood
Though power is most likely your key
Third sings sweet Hufflepuff
Gentle and caressing you are
If your not in the others you belong here
To find a home you won't look far
And last, but not least, is Ravenclaw,
Smart and focused are you
Those with a mind for knowledge
You belong here; you know it's true!
Now, young student, don't be afraid -
Step forward and put me on!
I'll find a place where you belong
And may you live happily after on!
The 1st Years and the entire hall of students exploded in applause for the hat's new song, though most of the smaller ones clapped in confusion - what were they supposed to say to that, hmm? Hoorah, hoorah? They had no idea even why the hat sang at the beginning of the year; in fact, no body did. They just went along with it. Merrythought cleared her throat and then stepped forward, facing the students that were in front of her. She might have been beautiful, if not for the small frown that irked the corners of her mouth into a small frown, and the narrow greenish yellow eyes that focused so intently upon them.
"When I call your last name," Merrythought's entire outside demeanor changed. She smiled brightly at the students gathered around the Headmaster, and they relaxed visably from the wide-eyed look they'd given her moments ago. "Please come up and sit on the stool. I will place the hat on your head, and once it decides, the hat will call out which house you are in. Now...please step forward...Calavert, Rebecca."
The child that he had watched being bustled about by those of her year hurried forward, pulling at her robes, one hand drawn to her mouth in apprehension. She sat down, and the hat was placed upon her brown head. The hall quieted. She was trembling, visably, from head to foot, one foot scuffing the floor nervously, and the hat moved about on her head, giving one the funny impression that there was a good-sized creature inside of the hat that was crawling about on her. It did take a while, deciding which House this child would be in - in fact, the hat seemed to be talking to her, before realizing that there were other students that it needed to take care of. Idiot. The tear in the brim of the ragged hat opened wide, and bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR!"
The table at the very end exploded with cheers and happy whistles. She removed the hat and then hurried over to the table that cheered the loudest, her face bright red.
It seems that the school is not short a Gryffindor or two, Christine thought boredly, drumming her fingers on the table top. Narcissa was busy braiding her hair or something or other like that; she hadn't really listened to what the other girl had said she was going to do. She was mainly focused on the Sorting. Two Slytherins, four Gryffindors, a Hufflepuff, and a pair of Ravenclaws. Hrm. We need more Slytherins. suppose that the two we got are quite good, and may have specific skills, but then again...they look inexperienced, and dull. Tch. Maybe they'll improve in time. Who knows?
Across from her and a little along the ways, Tom Riddle was thinking the same thing.
"Dolohov, Corina," Merrythought called, and the child that he had helped on the train hurried up to her. Dolohov's sister? He glanced at his supposed friend, to find that all of his followers had straightened up and were looking at the small child that hurried forward. "Now dear, sit down -- yes, there you go."
The hat was wiggling about on her head wildly, as if it were laughing, and she jumped at a particular movement, and the hat flopped sidewards. Moronic object. Corina sat silent for a few moments, before the hat said loudly, "Ah, another Dolohov, eh? Hah hah...I know just where to put you...SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherin House roared in a burst of cheer as the Dolohov sister hurried forward, looking for her big brother. Antonin had actually shoved Avery to another seat and patted the seat beside him for the little one even before she had been Sorted, who was beaming proudly and grinning like Christmas AND her birthday had just come early this year.
Tom let a small, secretive smile out her way; she blushed.
"Score three for Slytherin." Narcissa giggled softly in Christine's ear, and even the usually stoic girl let out a smirk.
"Let's see if we can get at least two more, eh?" The girl replied, and then turned as Narcissa let go of her hair. Of course, being the very unmanagable hair that it was, it just came out of the neat braid that the blond girl had put it in and fell down her back again in the usual dark curls.
"I don't think so." Lucius mused from the other side of Narcissa. "It looks to me that the other four or five remaining students are Gryffindor and Hufflepuff idiots."
Christine took note of this and then actually stood up to peer over his head - she was not short, she was just vertically challenged. There was a difference between those two terms. Unfortunately, he was right - a kid with a load of sandy hair, a blond girl with extremely red cheeks, another girl that looked a little foreign ( she didn't know what she was...french, maybe? ), a boy with black hair, and another boy with brown hair. None of them looked even remotely good enough to be in Slytherin. Alas, yet another year with a shortage of those in her House. It was unfortunate enough that there were a load of Gryffindor students this year, but this was just ridiculous. A heart of a lion. Curse them all.
Oh well.
"Now that this is finished, I am prepared to eat as much as I can stuff myself with without combusting from the inside--" Dippet laughed and then extended his hands to the sides. Christine resisted the vague temptation to roll her eyes at the corny joke. "Begin your feast!"
In unison, food began to appear everywhere - heaping mounds of mashed potatoes, chicken, turkey, peas, Yorkshire puddings and other such dessert delicacies, fruit, vegetables, biscuits and bread, tea and milk - everything that could possibly suit the needs of the hungry children that sat at the tables. Hands began to grab for the food eagerly, piling it onto the thin golden plates that sat at each student's residence, and at once, the Hall was filled with chatter and the sounds of forks scraping over the plates as some people unceremoniously began to shovel the food into their mouths. Narcissa looped around the table and whispered something in Bellatrix's ear - the black-haired girl's lips spread into a grin, whilst Tom only subjected himself to eating. It wasn't necessary to pay attention to it if it didn't involve him, did it?
No.
He was done quite quickly, actually...and ended up only rising from his seat to lead the 1st Years ( all who had huddled together in that tight pack that was usually expected out of children their age ) to the Common Room. Christine - whose gaze he could even feel from the position above the small children he stood above; she had rather penetrating eyes, that one did - looked up as he made to leave, and Tom Riddle gave her that generous little smile, though she did not return it, and only watched him as he swept off to the Wing in which the Slytherin Common Room was enclosed and hidden throughout many halls and a nearly labyrinth-like section of the castle. The Slytherin Common Room was pretty much a long underground room with low hanging green lamps. The chairs, and various pillows, were situated near a high, beautifully carved mantelpiece in which a fire was crackling and sending warmth throughout the room, though the place was still chilly and dark, even in summer.
"Students," Tom extended his arms to the side. "This is the Slytherin Common Room, and the place where you will be staying for the remainder of your time here at Hogwarts. The left Wing, through there," he pointed a finger towards the back to the left of the mantlepiece, "Is the Girl's Wing. You will find your things set there beforehand by your designated sleeping area. The right Wing is the Boy's Wing. The same goes for you."
Tom watched them as they all hurried upstairs to find their trunks. A small smile perked the sides of his lips and he turned toward the fire, watching it crackle and turn. In the strange light the lamps cast on him, his smile looked so very much like a sneer. The others would be arriving soon from the Hall - yes, he could hear some of their voices outside of the door as they walked back, even through the stone, which sometimes he himself couldn't understand how that was...but it was a magical world, and he expected no less from it. Tom settled himself back in the highback chair that he had chosen by the fire, the flames dancing over his features and darkening his face in an alarming way. Avery emerged into the room, and the dark, sultry eyes darted up, resting on him. Without invitation, the bulky, taller one sat beside him, silent, as usual.
"And how was your summer vacation?" Asked the soft voice. Avery simply shook his head. "Why, Avery, you seem none too quick to answer. Mine was pitiful, to say the least. Being stuck with those filthy Muggles was torture. I yearned for this castle and it's beautiful turrets...I longed for Hogwarts..."
"Tom..."
"When we're alone, what did I say to do?" The tone had turned harsh and cold, and then dark eyes glinted. "You dare call me by the common name?"
"I'm sorry, I just--"
"No matter. Keep your voice down. We wouldn't want anyone else hearing. Soon my friends will increase in number; the faithful will rise to meet me." Such a change from the smiling, gentle boy who he had been when he had talked to Christine on the train!
Avery knelt, and kissed his right hand, head lowered.
"That's a good boy."
This was his true side ; the side that he chose to hide, the side that many of his supposed 'friends' feared. It was dominating, demanding of all respect...everything he said was to be followed, no matter what. This was the real him that lay inside the shell that said things so politely, and articulated his thoughts so softly, afraid of being caught 'wrong'... This real him brushed aside all thoughts of the emotions of others...he simply did not care. Tom leaned back in his chair, staring into the fire, his pale face transformed in the red and green light that blended so quickly. The faithful will rise to meet me...
It was the face of a demon with soulful eyes and a disarming smile.
AN: Oh god. My muse had left me behind, hence the fact that this chapter was incredibly hard to turn out. Ugh, schoolwork and all of that random stuff like problems with friends has been weighing down my mind, so I apologize to anyone who likes this story / has it favorited for the fallback in update. Expect the next chapter out a little bit earlier, and if it isn't, well, I'm pretty much cursed and my muse is like, 'omfgurliektehsuckzors' and will leave me again.
Tom: THE FAITHFUL ONES WILL RISE TO MEET ME!
Me: I know, I've sorta repeated that...I like that line. Uwehehehehe.
Voldemort: The faithful all ready HAVE risen to meet me. ( snort ) Idiot.
Tom: Shut up, you.
Voldemort: Keep it up and I'll kill you too once she's done writing this damnable fanfiction and screwing up my life.
Tom: You can't kill me. Your killing yourself too.
Voldemort: No I'm not. I'm killing what I once was.
Tom: Exactly. You.
Voldemort: Shut up, you.
Me: Wait a minute...what?
Tom + Voldemort: Nothing you sweet sweet child. ( pat pat )
Harry: Hey, how come I'm not in this story?
Voldemort: POTTER! ( wand draw omfg drama! )
Harry: Shut up, you.
Voldemort: ( sulk )
Me: Your not in this story because I don't like you.
Harry: ...Oh. Okay. ( walks off )
Tom: Should we really just let him walk off like that?
Me: He should realize what I said in a couple moments...5...4...3...2...1.
Harry: HEY! What do you mean you don't like me!