This is my first Tom/OC story ever! Thank you for coming here!

I do not own Harry Potter, the books or movies, and I thank JK Rowling, and everyone that helped her, for making the world so much better!

By the way, this fan fiction is set in Tom's 5th year! And Lekruz (Amaya's last name) is pronounced Le kroo!

I respect a man afraid of nothing,

more than a man afraid of death, but

I respect a man afraid of death,

more than a man afraid of life.

Anonymous

IHADADREAMWHERETHEREWASNOMONEYORMACHINES

Amaya stared out cautiously into the shadows of the clouds. Her dog barked continuously, staring straight at the spot she was straining to see into. He didn't normally bark, as he was very well trained, but Amaya wasn't about to stop him. He might be trying to tell her something.

Quietly, the girl stepped out onto the drenched porch. She knew any other girl would have run back inside and bolted the door, but she wasn't about to do that. She was waiting for someone, and she knew that he would eventually come, even if she didn't fully know whom he really was.

He would come, and take her away, so she could do something…something…to help…

Amaya knew she was different. It wasn't a fact, but it was a thought, and, over the years she had come to believe that even thoughts could create magic. A single glance could create a spark of something else. And she would continue to believe, because, even though the world was becoming worse and worse as the days flew by, there was always something that happened after…and there would always be a forever.

The dog stopped barking, and lay down on the wooden patio. Hm. Maybe he had just wanted outside really badly………

…Or maybe not.

Sighing, Amaya went back inside and closed the door silently, making sure to leave it unlocked. If he came, she wanted to make sure he could make himself at home. She wiped her feet on the entrance mat, then slipped into a pair of white and black feathery slippers. Would she see him today? Would he even come? Or would she have to find him?

Amaya tiptoed back inside, smiling slightly as she looked out the window at the soft rain. The clouds were so dark today, that they made 1:30pm seem like 1:30am. It was nice, though, when everything was so dark…

A sudden crash of thunder made Amaya jump. That's weird…there hadn't been any lightning, so what had made that sound? Turning from the window, a small smile spread over her face. There was someone standing in front of her…an older man, with a big beard. It wasn't him, but it was someone she could trust.

"Hello." She said kindly.

"And hello to you, Amaya." He replied back, eyes twinkling in a way she would never forget, "My name is Professor Dumbledore, and I'm here to take you to a land filled with magic!"

ITWASSOPEACEFULTHERE

A land filled with magic…Amaya wasn't sure what to expect. All she knew was that she was supposed to go to Platform 9 ¾ at 8:00am first thing in the morning, and get on the first train that arrived. Was she supposed to figure this riddle out on her own, or was Professor Dumbledore going to be there, at the train station to help her?

Adjusting the bag in her hand, Amaya looked to the two signs on her far right and left: 9 and 10. There was no 9 ¾ sign, and nothing else to guide her. She sighed and leaned back on the cement block behind her.

"Huh!" she gasped as her butt landed hard on the ground.

There was nothing there. She looked at her feet, and realized that they were stuck half way into the wall. Amaya pulled hard and they came out easily. Was this magic? Was this what that wise man with the beard had meant? It surely was incredible! How had this happened? It was so great!

The girl pulled herself up and turned to look at the place she had come to. Of course it was just a train station, but there seemed to be something different here, as though the air were filled with magic and wonder and greatness! Already she loved it here, and she had only come to the train station!

Amaya felt her eyes brim with tears and she became overwhelmed with happiness. She felt like she belonged here! It was different, just like her!

A very loud train whistle snapped her out of her thoughts. Looking around the platform, she realized that only her and a few tardy people weren't inside of the train. She gasped and hurried to get inside, just as it started to move.

There were only about twenty people in the hallway, and Amaya figured that you had to ride in one of the compartments off to the side. Unfortunately, though, none of them were empty, so she settled on the only one left with one other person in it. She would have to be quiet, though. It looked like whoever it was was sleeping.

Opening the door as silently as possible, she sat down on the seat opposite to the person and looked hesitantly at the blinds on the entrance. It felt funny, having a big window beside her leading to a hallway, but would the other passenger mind?

Well, he was asleep anyway.

Amaya closed the blinds carefully, and went back to her seat. That felt much better. Now no one could be watching her from the back. That would be very weird…

The witch (that was what Professor Dumbledore had called her) looked out the window and smiled. The view was so pretty in September, no matter where you went. The trees were still full with healthy, green leaves, and the sky hadn't yet dulled to its winter grey colour. The wildlife was still out, possibly even more active now than in summer. Yes...to see this sight in the freedom of life…it was so wonderful…so generous…

Amaya sighed happily and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She had done her best to look nice today, on her first day of school at…Hog…warts? Yes. That was it.

She had brushed her long, wavy, blonde hair to look as shiny as possible, and had scrubbed her teeth until they squeaked. She had washed her pale skin with jasmine scented soap, but she still refused to wear make up. It hurt, taking it off.

Amaya took a long look into her piercing, green eyes and tried to read her very soul. It was easier to do it in a mirror, she found, and it was fun to see herself as another person.

The train lurched forward a little faster, and she had to momentarily hold onto the seat to keep herself from falling on the person opposite to her.

Who hasn't moved yet, she found herself adding.

Was this person really asleep? When you slept, didn't you still need to breathe? Whoever this was, it seemed as though they didn't. Their black cloak was pulled over their head, and their face was hidden up against the wall. Or maybe it was just a bundle of luggage…

There was a knock at the door, and Amaya jumped up to answer it.

"HI!" a cheery woman said as soon as she was in sight, "Want to buy some CANDY?"

The young witch smiled and looked down at the "candy". Yes, this world of magic was very unique, but maybe she wouldn't risk her health just yet.

"Well, no thank you, but…" she gestured towards the person (she had decided that it wasn't luggage) that sat in the compartment.

"Oh, don't worry about him," the woman laughed brightly, "I know him personally, and I don't think he'll be wanting any."

She skipped off to her next destination, and Amaya closed the door.

So that woman knew this person? Hm…he was starting to make her curious, now. She didn't know why, but he just…was. She wasn't going to wake him up, though, as he seemed to be in a very deep sleep…to her, anyway.

Amaya looked out of the window and continued to take in the scenery. She was going to Hogwarts…oh! That sounded so foreign! Dumbledore had described some of it to her. Apparently, it was like a big castle, surrounded by a forest called the Forbidden Forest. But the professor hadn't had much time, unfortunately, and that was all he had said.

The witch sighed. As much as she wanted to imagine the place she would be staying at for the rest of the year and a little more, she didn't think she would be able to conjure up something that great in her mind.

But she really wanted to know more about it…of course! When the boy across from her woke up, she'd just ask him! Surely he'd know all about this Hogwarts place that she couldn't even imagine in her head! Oh, she could barely wait!

Amaya glanced at the boy and nearly jumped. He was awake! Wow!

She made a note in her head to remember him. He had black hair that seemed to glint blue in the light…it went to just below his ears and covered his right eye slightly. He had pale skin and mystic, grey eyes. Maybe she'd ask him for a bit of help if she ever needed any.

"Hello." Amaya smiled, noticing a silver earring in the boy's left ear.

His facial expression didn't change one bit, and she assumed that he must have been a little dizzy from just waking up.

"What's your name?" she asked, anxious to find out more about him. He seemed like a really good person.

The wizard (considering he was on the train to a magical school) gave her a questioning look, almost as though he was surprised she had asked him that.

"Tom Riddle." he said, then mumbled, "I've never seen you before."

Amaya beamed at him.

"I'm new here! My name is Amaya Lekruz!"

Tom nodded in acknowledgement and Amaya felt that he almost knew that she wanted to ask a question. She rather liked him so far.

"I was wondering if you could tell me…What do you know about Hogwarts?"

Tom looked thoughtful for a second, then said, "Well, I know a lot, but what matters is, what do you want to know?"

"Oh! I want to know everything! But first, what did Professor Dumbledore mean by learning to use magic?"

Something flashed in the wizard's eyes when she said Dumbledore. Amaya grinned. The professor must be a very good teacher, or maybe he was just a really great person all-around!

BUTISTILLHADSOMETHINGTHATBOTHEREDME

XXX7XXX

I hope you like it so far! I'm sorry that I couldn't make the first chapter longer!