Thanks for the reviews, and that stuff that freaked you out was just to make the story a bit quicker! As for Amaya not having any parents…you'll just have to wait and find out! Thank you for the reviews! Oh, and I wasn't sure if wands were free or not, so I figured they weren't!
IHADAWIERDFEELINGWHENEVERITHOUGHTYOURNAME
The train came to a halt, and again Amaya had to hold onto the side of the seat to stop herself from falling.
"We're here?" she asked, glancing over at Tom curiously.
"No." he answered simply.
"Then why did the train stop?"
Well, Tom was now absolutely sure that this girl wasn't a spy. She was so…innocent, too. He had never met anyone like her, and, as much as he tried, he couldn't stop talking to her. It was as though all of his hard work on himself had come down to do nothing. Normally he would force his thoughts shut with the thought of the consequences of discussion, but he couldn't find any from talking to this…Amaya Lekruz.
"We have to take some carriages to the school, but, since you're new here, you might have to take the boat…how old are you?"
Amaya smiled and said, "Fifteen."
To say Tom was surprised was a huge understatement. This girl was in the FIFTH YEAR? With him? Her innocence and height had betrayed her true age.
"Well then," he said calmly and without emotion, "you will be taking the carriages."
"Can I ride with you?"
There was a long pause and then a small, "If you must."
A loud chorus of chattering broke out, quite suddenly, and Tom soon added, "But you should change into your Hogwart's robes before we leave the train.
"Hogwart's…robes?"
So she hadn't gotten her materials for school, yet…Dumbledore must have been planning to take her that day. He scowled. What a splendid treat.
"Never mind. I suppose Dumbledore will take you to get your materials soon enough."
Tom got up from his seat and grabbed his luggage, waiting a moment until he was sure Amaya was right behind him. When he knew she was, the wizard opened the door and rushed out of the train quickly, following the rest of the students to the carriages.
"Wow!" Amaya cried suddenly, "What are those strange creatures pulling the carriages? I've never seen anything like those before!"
"You can see them?" Tom burst out accidentally, earning a few awkward glances from some of the other students.
"Yes, why?" the innocent witch beside him asked.
"No reason. Follow me." He corrected his mistake.
Tom hastily got into one of the carriages and locked the door behind him.
When he received a questioning look from Amaya, he said, "I know a few people that…I try to avoid."
A few people…humph. That was an understatement. He had an entire crowd of idiotic girls that seemed to never cease to find him. But that wasn't the only thing bothering him…. This girl was already showing a few signs that slightly pricked Tom's interest. First of all, she had come to Hogwarts in the fifth year. Not many students new to the world of magic were called upon at such old an age. Could Dumbledore see something different in her? Or was this attached to some sort of twisted plan he was creating?
And second of all, she could see the creatures pulling the carriages. That meant she had witnessed death. Tom felt a twinge of something in his stomach, but quickly pressed it down. He wasn't about to go and lose his cold exterior now.
The carriage jerked forward, and they began moving.
"Oh and Tom…what is Quidditch? I heard someone speak of it on the train. Is it another animal?"
The wizard felt something strange when she said his name. Only teachers had ever called him by his first name, or students trying to suck up to him. But the way she said it was so…innocent. Ugh! Why did this word pop into his head every time he saw her?
"It's a sport…" he answered warily.
"Really?" Amaya asked excitedly, "What's it like?"
"Well, witches or wizards ride on their brooms, swatting quaffles into nets and whacking bludgers into each others' heads. There're also people that guard the nets, and one person on each team that tries to catch the snitch…"
"Bludgers? Quaffles? It sounds so exciting!" she let out a small laugh, that was full of happiness, "but, what do you think of it?"
"Me?" Tom was a bit surprised, "Well, I've only played it once, but I suppose it's alright…I've never actually tried out for the team, though…"
"Why not?"
The dark wizard found himself unable to answer that question. He had been busy with dark magic and his plots to become more powerful, but…for some weird reason, he didn't think of that as a good enough excuse. Why hadn't he joined the team? There was no good answer for that…He had beaten the other team when he had played…he had caught the golden snitch…
"I don't…know…"
Amaya smiled and leaned forward in her seat.
"Will you join with me this year? Please? Would you show me how to play?"
"I would, but," the answer came out swiftly, and Tom couldn't take it back, "I doubt that you'll be in the same house as me."
"House?"
He sighed. Maybe he'd just tell a bit about the houses, not their entire long story.
"There are four houses in the school of Hogwarts," he began, "They are Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor. Dumbledore will put a hat on your head, and it will decide which house you belong in. Slytherin is for the sly, cunning and pureblooded witches and wizards, Ravenclaw is for the smart ones, that always want to learn, Hufflepuff is for the students that don't really fit in the other houses, and Gryffindor is for the noble, brave, and loving ones. I don't doubt that you'll be in that one."
"Wow…" Amaya said, "Which one are you in?"
"Slytherin."
"Really? Do all the different colours and patterns on your robe have anything to do with your house?"
"Yes." Tom said simply, then looked up and saw her looking back at him expectantly, "Gryffindors are gold and red, Ravenclaws are blue and bronze, Hufflepuffs are black and yellow, and Slytherins are green and silver."
"That's so unique! But…don't you find that the names sound like animal names, and the colours match the animals I think they are!"
The wizard sighed. This conversation wasn't going to end anytime soon.
"Well, you're right. The houses do have animals…Gryffindors are lions, Hufflepuffs are badgers, Ravenclaws are ravens, and us Slytherins…we're snakes." He said.
"Wow…" Amaya whispered, amazed.
There was a long pause that lasted for about ten minutes, then Tom found that he couldn't help but ask her just one question, as meaningless as it may have been.
"Which house do you want to go in?"
Amaya smiled and said, "Slytherin. I want to be in your house. You're really nice."
Tom didn't know what to say to that. He had never been called nice in his entire life. He couldn't very well correct her, no matter how wrong he thought she was.
He went to reply, when the carriages unexpectantly jerked to a quick stop. He stood up and opened the door, letting Amaya go out first. He stepped out right after her, and then remembered something.
"Dumbledore will probably want you up front to be sorted. I don't know where he'd be, but…"
"There you are, Amaya! Hello, Tom! Amaya, I would like you to come with me. I have a few things to explain to you." Dumbledore's voice suddenly came, as he rushed out of the packed crowd.
Amaya turned to Tom as she began to walk away.
"Thank you for everything, Tom! I'm sure I'll see you again soon!"
Tom got a strange feeling in his gut as she left, and watched her back until the moment she was completely out of sight.
"OH! TOM! DO YOU WANT TO SIT WITH ME?"
And so the great storm began.
SOMEPEOPLEWOULDSAYIFELTWHOLE
Amaya stood and watched as the last of the first years retreated to their new positions at the tables. She smiled at the thought of sitting up on that stool and talking to a hat inside of her head. Yes, this world was very different…but she liked it like that.
"And we also have a new fifth year. Amaya Lekruz, would you please come to be sorted?" Dumbledore voiced.
The witch walked over to the stool and sat down facing the many hungry students. The professor placed the old, raggedy hat he had put on the other newcomers, right on the crown of her head.
Hmm…sweet, innocent…and brave, I see. Amaya felt a voice tickle her from inside of her mind.
'I want to go in Slytherin.' She silently requested. She knew the hat would hear her, just as Dumbledore had said.
Slytherin? But oh, you suit Gryffindor much much more.
'No. Please. I want to be in Tom's group.'
Tom? As in Tom Riddle? I don't suggest that that is the best choice!
'Please.'
Well, you are clever, I suppose, but are you a pureblood?
'A…pureblood?'
Never mind. I will put you in Slytherin, either way, but don't come running to me when you don't fit in.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat announced rather loudly.
'Thank you, Mr. Hat.' Amaya said in her mind, just as Dumbledore took the hat off of her head.
He pointed out the Slytherin table to her, and she quickly shuffled over to sit beside a very surprised Tom.
"Could I please sit here?" she asked a girl that was sitting right up against her friend.
"What? No wa-"
"Verona would be happy to give up her seat for you." Tom interjected the girl.
Amaya sat down as Verona slid over and she turned to the wizard right away.
"See?" she smiled, "I knew I'd get in Slytherin! Now we can both try out for the Quidditch team!"
"Quidditch?" Verona spoke up, "but I've been trying to get Tom to join forever!"
"Great! So you're going to try out too?"
"Yes."
"Well then I wish you the best of luck!"
"Not that I'll need it."
Amaya smiled to Verona then began listen to what Headmaster Dippet was saying.
"And you all know that the forest surrounding the area is strictly forbidden. Your classes start tomorrow and the Head of your house will give out your timetable. Also, Professor Farfet will be posting any new rules in your common rooms. Now," he smiled, but the smile seemed to be lacking something, "Feel free to eat!"
BUTTHATWASANUNDERSTATEMENT
"Wow! A wand shop? That's so amazing!"
Amaya pulled her bag of money up a little more as it threatened to tear from her hands. She had changed some of her money into these coins, and had since bought nearly everything she needed. Glancing over at Dumbledore, she saw that he was carrying an awful lot.
"Are you sure that you don't want me to carry anything else, Professor?"
"No, that's quite alright, Amaya. The money looks heavy enough. I thought you might have gotten a bit too much, but that's all right, I'm sure. Maybe if you want, we could stop by the broom shop, and you could buy yourself a broom with some of your leftover money."
A broom? Oh, yes! She needed one for Quidditch!
"Okay!"
Dumbledore turned into the wand shop and walked up to the counter, immediately laying the shopping bags on it.
"Hello, Redyn. How are you this fine evening?"
A man that looked to be around Dumbledore's age walked out from the back room, saying, "Why, Albus! I haven't seen you in a whole…two days! Hahahaha…I'm doing quite all right. And who do we have here?"
Dumbledore smiled brightly and said, "This is Amaya Lekruz, and she is in need of a wand, if you don't mind."
"Why, certainly! Certainly!" the owner of the wand shop, Redyn, exclaimed, "Come with me, please, Amaya. Oh, and, I'm Mr. Ollivander."
"Okay." Amaya said quietly and followed him to a little room behind the counter.
"Hm…I don't know why," Mr. Ollivander said, "But you give me the impression of unicorn or veela. I'll let you try out some wands."
He opened a few drawers in the wall, and took out some boxes.
Handing her a rather bendy looking stick, he said, "Just point it at something and give it a little flick."
Amaya took the long piece of wood, and turned to face an apple on the wand shop owner's desk. She gave in a flick, and the apple melted.
"Oh!" she said, "I'm sorry!"
"No worries! No worries! That's small compared to the boy that blew my wall up a while ago. Besides," he took out his own wand and flicked it, resulting in the apple to become solid again, "I can repair any damage these wands might do."
Mr. Ollivander took the wand from her and handed her a stick as white as snow. Amaya flicked it once again at the apple, and it caught on fire.
It was repaired, and another wand was handed to her. Flick. The apple exploded. The apple was repaired, then Amaya acquired another wand. Flick. The apple turned blue, then cracked as if it were glass.
"Maybe I was wrong." Mr. Ollivander said, "Let's try phoenix feathers. I haven't had anyone in need of any of them this year, for some strange reason. Maybe you'll break this pattern, as I highly doubt that you'd have anything to do with a dragon."
He put the wands back into the boxes, then the boxes into their drawers. He walked over a few shelves, and then pulled out some more wands. Handing one to Amaya, he watched as she flicked it. The apple turned a brighter red then it had been, and juice began to ooze out of it.
"Just as I thought," said Mr. Ollivander, "Phoenix Feather. But which wood would be suitable?…Hmm…I wonder if…no…but maybe…"
He stared cautiously over at one of the shelves, seemingly trying to decide something. Finally, he opened it, cringing slightly as it squeaked. It was obvious that the drawer hadn't been used for some time.
The shop owner took a wand out, and handed it to Amaya, signalling her to try it out. She flicked the wand carefully at a flute on the man's desk, and a soft tune began to play.
Mr. Ollivander's face lit up with joy, and he cried, "Perfect! Yes! You should get that one, my dear!"
He guided her back over to Dumbledore.
"Thank you for everything." Amaya said to the shop owner as she handed him some money.
He nodded in acknowledgement and watched as she disappeared out of the door. That wand was the only willow wood with the core of a phoenix tail feather in his entire shop, and oh, how powerful it was…
Nearly as powerful as that yew wand he had sold five years ago…
IKNOWTHATIDIDNTEVENKNOWYOU
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Hope you liked it! And I'm really sorry that it took so long to update…