Chapter One: Dirty Blooded Brat

It was just after dinner in the Great Hall. Greg and our friends were all still at our seats, talking and laughing as usual. It was like that every night. Have the time of our lives and let everyone watch on hopelessly. It only added to our grins.

The bells tolled. It was already 8 o'clock. We figured we'd best be getting back to the common room. Or at least that's where my friends were headed. I had some poking around to do. A few day ago I'd found a room on the seventh floor that I was still curious about and I had every intention of going exploring.

"Gregory would you stop worrying! I'm just going to take a walk."

"If you're not allowing me to go then you're doing something wrong."

A mocking laugh escaped me.

"Listen to yourself, you sound like you belong in Hufflepuff." That was all he ever needed to hear and he almost always shut himself up. Satisfied, I turned to go, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"I'm just worried for you is all. You know that."

'All I know is that you don't like being left out of my fun.'

Contrary to my annoyed thoughts, my features softened. Sucking up wasn't just reserved for teachers.

"And I appreciate it, really. But I can handle myself." My lips met his briefly,"Trust me, I've stayed alive this long." With out being able to keep myself from getting up the stairs any longer I left his side for good that time.

'Why did my parents pick ?' I ground my teeth, rolling my eyes as soon as Greg was behind me. Of course I answered myself immediately.

They picked him because he was wealthy. Or rather his father was wealthy. His blood was pure. He was in my year. Hell, I had to be honest, he was rather good looking as well. But none of those things were very exciting since I'd grown up surrounded by them, spoiled by an omnipresence of them in my life. Pure blood, money, beauty. It was my life. In that order, too.

Now where was that door? I could have sworn it had just been there yesterday afternoon. I must've searched the entire seventh floor four times before I started to entertain the idea of defeat. My back was tired from carrying my bag all day, my feet were frustrated with my curiosity for being so hard to extinguish. But I couldn't shake the hope that if I just kept looking I'd surely find something. Because that stupid door had been here…hadn't it?

I ran a tired hand through my by-now-thick-with-oil hair. It wanted to be cleaned. The rest of my body joined the protest as I suddenly became aware of how good a hot shower sounded. However my natural ambition flared up in protest: 'How can you be giving up so soon?' it argued.

'Maybe…maybe just one more time around the'-

"You there,"my eyes looked up. A rather tall boy was taking quick steps down the corridor towards me. I rolled my eyes when, seconds later, I realized who it was. Tom. There was no point in trying to ignore him, his legs were long and fast and within moments he was slowing to a stop right in front of me.

"Miss Delatorre, may I inquire as to the occasion that you should find yourself so far from Slytherin House at this hour?"his hands were clasped behind his back, and his cumbersome words flowed with ease. He didn't frown but looked at me as if amused.

"Oh, good show Thomas. You've caught me. But as you're so familiar with the rules, you'll of course know that being in sixth year, as yourself, entitles me to roam about the castle where ever I so desire until 9:30pm." The bells had recently tolled nine o'clock and I used this against him, "I believe that gives me another thirty minutes."

He didn't seem fazed in the slightest, only taunting me further. "That's very good Lydia. However, I asked you why you were roaming, not to recite your rights."

"Is your life really so boring that you have to prod into mine?"

"Only when I'm on duty." He smirked. He had an attractive smile, I'd give him that. I afforded him a sardonic smirk of my own before heading off towards the stairs. If he wanted me back in the common room, fine. I'd be more than happy to get out of his way.

However, it didn't seem he was going to get out of mine.

"When I need to be escorted back to my own House I'll let you know." I kept my eyes ahead of me as I started down a staircase.

"Are you always this catty?" I could hear the smile in Tom's voice. I could picture the leer he was wearing right then and the thought un-nerved me ever so slightly.

"To people like you? Yes." My gaze continued to avert his own.

"People like me?" he chuckled, "Meaning your authority figures." His breath was a little too close to my ear for my comfort. I turned on him.

"It means dirty blooded brats who don't even deserve to walk in the same halls as the purebloods, let alone be in Slytherin House." I got off at the ground floor and strut away quickly before I had to listen to him anymore.


"Honestly professor it was only a spot of fun. There was no malicious intent meant whatsoever." I looked sweetly at Professor Dumbledore. I'd never liked him much. Such a bloody Gryffindor. In any event he was my Transfiguration professor and I was, at the present moment, being forced to suck up somewhat in yet another speech on why I shouldn't be getting into trouble.

Honestly, all I'd done was transfigure Dorothy Bells' voice box so all she could do for the next 24 hours was 'moo', it's not like I had killed anyone. Served her right for thinking she could get away with gossiping about me. It wasn't my fault she didn't have the sense to wait until I was out of earshot, I was simply defending myself. But no, Dumbledore's got to go and have kittens, trying to give me a detention.

"I am sorry Miss Delatorre, but I have already ignored many of your past infringements. You must take responsibility for your actions."

"I completely agree with you. Too many people nowadays think they can get away with anything. There must be punishment so they'll think twice about things like larceny and spreading malicious rumors. I was merely doing my duty towards Miss Bells. No one was about to punish after all. And where's the justice in that?"

He bowed his head ever so slightly and put his palms together as if praying. "And the staff and I thank you so very much for your services. However, Mrs. Bells, Dorothy's mother, will be right to complain to the school and as you saw your responsibility so too do I have an obligation. I sorry Lydia, but perhaps next time you'll, how did you put it? Think twice?"

He handed me a slip that told me the date and all of my detention. Clutching it in my hand, my lips pursed.

"There you are. I hope you have a splendid afternoon. Good day Ms. Delatorre." he said, with nerve enough to smile at me.

"Good day to you, Sir." I ground the words out before turning round swiftly and strutting out.

My friends were in a right state trying not to laugh hysterically when they found out that afternoon at lunch. I managed to get my way out of almost anything and the fact that an old bat of a man had just made a fool of me was nothing short of comical to them.

I served my detention on a Saturday night. Dumbledore had me pulling weeds in every single green house with out the aid of magic. Needless to say, massive amounts of dirt got under my well manicured nails and caked all across my normally sterile hands. Hands that had never seen a day of work in their lives. With every scoop of dirt my hatred for my Transfiguration professor grew. I'd gone down at 7:30 and wasn't allowed to leave for the castle until 9:30. Curfew was then underway and I had no choice but to go back to Slytherin House and go to bed.

Part of me didn't mind, weed pulling was exhausting. I never wanted to even about life without magic again. My neck ached desperately from leaning over flower pots for two hours as my feet throbbed like fire from standing for so long.

Trudging into the entrance hall, I was beginning to feel heavy with fatigue. The rugs and tapestries became a blurry mess of shapes and colors and I rubbed at my eyes in frustration. The suits of armor seemed to tilt on their stands, morbidly threatening. What was going on? I couldn't remember ever being so damn tired.

"Lydia?" My name reached me in the form of a faint question. There was someone up ahead coming out of the dungeons…but the candle light was making everything so very…fuzzy. "Lydia?"

I recognized the high-pitched, male voice as it resounded with much clearer diction this time.

"Oh, what do you want at this hour Thomas? Isn't it past your bedtime?" I did need chiding from a prefect right then. Honestly, couldn't he just leave me the bugger alone for once? His response to my grumble was merely another sardonic smile.

"Perhaps I should remind you that not the one coming in off the grounds past curfew."

"If you must know, I had detention in the greenhouse…all of them, actually."

His smile spread to a grin, "Ah, I see. I was wondering how you'd managed to avoid it for so long with such blatant disrespect as yours."

"This coming from the teacher's pet poster child? You wouldn't know real disrespect if it slapped you."

"Well, 'real disrespect' is welcome to try and see what will happen." His soft smirk remained as he mocked me.

I regarded him for a moment in mild disgust before rolling my eyes, "I don't need this from you." I sighed, turning to make for the dungeons.

"Giving up so soon are we?" his statement was practically a challenge.

"I'm sorry," I turned slowly, "are you still talking?"

"Yes, and in perfect English. Should I speak slower for you Lydie dear?"

My jaw set and I glared his way, "I don't think we're quite on the basis of pet names yet. You don't even know me."

"Don't I?" he cocked his head in mock surprise. "That's funny, because you seem to think you know quite a lot about me. You think you know quite a lot about everyone at this school. So go on, tell me something about myself ."

"I asked you not to…" a sigh of frustration caused me to trail off, "Fine. I'll tell you something about yourself. You are nothing like me and my friends. We have nothing in common and I want nothing to do with you." Again I turned to go.

"Even though we're in the same house? Perhaps we're more alike than meets the eye?" His voice called out and halted my steps once more.

'Christ, does he ever shut up?'

"You shouldn't even in Slytherin." I spat over my shoulder. "Salazar would to see such filth not only in this school, but in his very house."

"Do not assume so much." His chuckle seemed malicious somehow, almost disturbed in a way. He knew something I did not and it made me feel very unsafe. I made the effort to turn fully towards him, my fatigue still nagging at the back of my mind as curiosity got the better of me.

"What are you talking about?" the drowsy words were strung together in a mild slur as a I massaged the back of my neck with my palm.

"Don't worry on it. You should go back to the common room. Back to your bed where you can sleep. You look positively exhausted."

"And where are you going?" for he was still at the foot of the grand staircase and I was sure he hadn't left the dungeons to find me. His robes were absent, as was his prefect badge, and I had to wonder what he was up to.

"I'm going to the prefect's bath. A nice, hot bath is exactly what I need after such a trying day, don't you agree?" he taunted.

"Sounds lovely." I gave him a bored sigh, my hands rubbing at my eyes with a tired clumsiness.

"I might have asked you along, but you seem so weary. I won't keep you any longer."

His words almost made me loose my already declining balance. This was getting embarrassing. It was as if some presence had crawled within my thoughts, curled up to go to bed and now everything else in my brain was joining the motion.

"But I can't go…I'm not…" I forced myself to stay awake, desperate to win the fight against my eyelids. "I'm not a prefect, I'm not allowed in there. And-and anyways, it's past curfew."

Tom took a few steps closer. His arm came to rest around my shoulder, while the other tried to help steady me by firmly holding the small of my back.

"Stop fighting so hard. You need rest." I'd never heard his voice so soft, so sincere. My resentment for the boy and all the reasons behind that resentment were suddenly hard to remember. Within seconds I didn't even want to remember. "Close your eyes, let me lead you. Trust me Lydia." He led me up the stairs, speaking of a pool of warm water that I could sink into. Dim candle light that would allow my eyes to rest. Soft, fluffy towels…taps of sweet smelling bath wash…mounds of bubbles…marble floors…

Suddenly we'd stopped. I had been sure it would've taken longer than that, surely I wasn't so tired that I was loosing track of time. He said some kind of password I didn't hear properly and the door opened. I blinked open my eyes. The room was fairly impressive, done in the style of an indoor Roman bath. The pool itself, as well as two feet outward from it, were sunken down in the floor while everything else was seemingly raised. Arched alcoves surrounded the pool and those alcoves led to more archways with curtains. I assumed these were dressing rooms. The entire room was halfheartedly lit by a splendid candelabra hanging above the bath. Creamy marble doubled the light with its dull gold reflections. The scene was a welcomed sight to tired eyes but I kept my impressions to myself.

Tom ushered me through one of the curtains and told me to change quickly. At this point I was too tired to think my actions through. I was in the Prefect's bath past curfew with a mud blood who was encouraging me to take off my clothes and get into a pool of water with him. Things were looking wildly out of hand. But in my mind I had the situation completely under control. I was more than convinced I could handle myself. It wasn't as if Tom posed any real threat.

Stripping down to my slip, I neatly folded my clothes and set them in the corner before walking out. Some vague thought involving embarrassment over appearing before Tom in nothing but lace and satin flittered through my mind. But this was forgotten as a hate arose towards the uncomfortably cold sting of marble tile on the sensitive bottoms of my bare feet.

Tom already had a few taps running and the bath water was steaming lightly. My steps led me down into the pool. Hot water crept up my legs, then my slip, soaking the negligee and seeping warmth into my skin.

My eyes couldn't stop themselves from studying Thomas' bare back and its structure. Broad shoulders…a long, well defined spine…not as much muscle as there could be, but still strong. His skin wasn't as pale as usual in the dim firelight and it seemed to simply ache of beauty.

Without warning he turned, rocking the water around him into soft, silent ripples. I was fully within the pool now, the water stopped an inch or two below my shoulders and as Tom got closer it was a reminder of how much taller he was than I. He stood at least a head higher than my own. Looking down at me his smile was soft.

He smiled an awful lot. This to me showed great confidence and while I was intrinsically drawn to confidence, I also knew to be somewhat wary of it as well. What was he so amused by? The age old phrase "The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife" came back to me. It was a phrase my mother had used often at home.

"Why did you ask me to come with you tonight?" the question was only half suspicious.

"You looked like you needed it."

I cocked my head, "Is that concern or an insult?"

"Neither, you're just paranoid."

"That was an insult." My own smile was small and wry.

"Truth hurts." he shrugged.

I chanced a few steps closer.

"Should I be?" the intonation in my voice soft, sincere. I'd never even done anything like this with Greg; he'd never have been up for it anyhow, too scared. So why was I so comfortable with Tom? Was it because we really were more alike than first glance would tell? Hmm, I didn't trust that either.

"Paranoid?" he asked and then shrugged, "Perhaps."

"You said earlier I shouldn't assume so much…what did you mean?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he goaded. He began moving slowly, swimming almost, around me.

"I believe I asked for a reason, yes." He was behind me and I did my best to keep my eyes on him.

"I was referring to your assumptions of me, despite the qualities that sorted us into Slytherin house."

"Why are you in Slytherin anyways? Shouldn't someone like you be a Gryffindor?"

"Someone like me?" he repeated curiously. "Are you referring to my blood line again?"

"Not necessarily."

"What then? What qualities make me so Gryffindor worthy? Or unworthy of Slytherin, as you put it earlier."

It was my turn to shrug, "I don't know…you're honest."-

"How do you know my true intentions?"

"Don't interrupt me, it's rude." I sneered before continuing, "You're a teacher's pet and a prefect and smart and brave."-

"You think of me as brave?" again in front of me as he drifted, he seemed quite amused by this.

"No, think you have a hero complex. But your reputation says you're brave. It's Gryffindor mint either way."

"Anything else you'd like to tell me about myself?" He'd swum around me twice and now remained behind me. His words were a whisper over the skin of my ear as he brushed my dark hair over the opposite shoulder.

"You're driven…" The shiver that ran down my spine, across my shoulders and down my arms was out of my control and I cursed it. But he didn't say anything. Had he even noticed?

"Ah, ambition…yes, I'm quite motivated towards my goals. But I believe that's a trait of our own house, is it not?"

"I suppose it depends on your goals."

"And what exactly are my goals? Do you have any idea?"

"Saving the world?" I mocked him, laughing softly.

"I'm impressed, Lydie. You were close." his hands were on my shoulders. I didn't like him touching me at all. I wanted to back away, to turn on him and shout at his very nerve. Funny, I wasn't actually able to any of those things. Where the hell had my own nerve run off to?

"Of course I was." I smirked.

"Close, but not right." His hands moved in closer to my neck and I felt a mild amount of pressure being applied just above my shoulder blades. Tom Riddle was getting away with massaging my back in a bath. Still, something kept me passive. Maybe it was the fact that he seemed to know what he was doing and after leaning over flower pots for two hours the feeling was deliciously divine.

"So enlighten me. What are your goals in life?"

"Absolute power." he breathed over my ear.

A low giggle escaped my lips. "Corrupt already are we?"

"Slytherin."

"Touché. So, what? You think being every teacher's pet is going to get you that?" I asked him, my tone somewhat jeering.

"Well it's not just what you know, it's who you know."

"Do I sense cunning?" My melodramatic gasp was fake, but the smile I was wearing couldn't have been more real.

"Another trait of Slytherin house. Perhaps you are judging a book by its cover?"

"Or its blood." I winced when his strong hands constricted around my shoulders much harder for a moment. "Ah!" I hissed, turning 180 degrees to glare at him, immediately reaching around to feel my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" he asked innocently, raising his eyebrows. I didn't even consider whether he was being sincere or not.

"Don't touch me anymore." I set my jaw and began making my way towards the side of the pool.

"Why? Are you afraid you'll enjoy it?"

"I was enjoying it, until you attempted to fracture my shoulder blades." Perhaps it was the water awakening my senses but I felt shaken awake somehow. Merlin, how tired I must have been to be convinced into coming here with Tom slowly advanced on me but I was much more alert of my surroundings now and was having none of it. My feet quickly found the edge of the bath and I pulled my self out, dripping soapy water all across the tile.

"Feeling better so soon?"

"Quite." I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. I turned to face him just before I went into the curtained alcove, "I don't know what you're playing at, but I'm leaving. Good night Tom." Roughly closing the curtain behind me I stood still for a moment in the small, candle-lit alcove. Safety washed over me as I picked my wand up from the floor, just holding the yew handle in my grip made me feel better.

"Aqua Evanesco." I mumbled, tapping my slip. Instantly the water was gone. A small smile reached me. The more magic I was in contact with the better.

I'd always seen magic as a true friend, a deeply sewn part of my being that could never let me down. I took in haste to get back into my clothes. As I buttoned up my blouse I frowned when I realized the dirt beneath my finger nails remained. I'd have to wash that off as soon as possible. When I jerked the cream colored curtain open to leave, I was alone.

"Bastard…" I mumbled going over to the taps on the far wall, opposite the door. A stream of cool water washed away the dirt and the still clinging heat of warm bathwater. My senses devoured the fresh feeling. Such a far cry from those disgusting greenhouses and the dirty blood of a muggle-born. My frown only grew deeper as my thoughts dwelled on what had just taken place and I threw my robes on over my uniform.

I heard light footsteps just ahead of me the whole way down to the dungeons but I lagged behind purposely. I was in no hurry to be back in Riddle's company. My excuse was obvious: he had too much nerve for a mudblood. But though I refused to admit it, the real reason I felt safer on my own than with a certain prefect was because he scared me. He knew something I did not, he was too confident and for some reason he could get to me. Barely and not for very long, but the reality was that he'd still shaken me up and I would not give him the chance again.

The walk seemed longer because of the dark, empty halls which were shadowed heavily by scarce torchlight. An eagerness to be back in the dungeons was ever present in my mind. Finally I reached the grand staircase and the entrance hall. I was beginning to feel fatigued again, just how late was it? Quick footsteps took me through the dungeons and to my common room. Ah, green light all around and a fireplace pulsing with dry heat. A grandfather clock stared me down like an angry parent. It was a quarter to eleven.

"What in God's bloody name were you doing with "

I couldn't help but roll my eyes before turning to Gregory. Because the great roaring I had just endured had indeed been the sound of my boyfriend who had obviously stayed up to wait for me. How much like my mother could he get?

"What was I doing with whom exactly? Because Professor Frondeus is after all the Herbology instructor, and I was after all serving my detention in the greenhouses. That is generally Frondeus' area of expertise, is it not?"

His nostrils flared as he huffed. "I meant Riddle…Why were you with ?"

I surveyed him calmly. "He's a prefect, he was only walking me back from detention. It's well past curfew as I'm sure you realize. He was sent to"-

"Stop lying to me, are you to hurt me?"

"Cut the melodramatics." my nose crinkled up in disgust as I crossed my arms over my chest, "What all did he tell you?"

"He told me you were with him in the prefect's bath." Gregory growled. He could be so insolent sometimes.

"What were his words exactly?" If I could even think about covering this up I had to know what I was working with. 'Keep your lies consistent.' my mother's voice rang in my head.

"He came in, I asked if he had seen you and he chuckled and said he'd seen quite a bit of you. I asked him what he meant as he casually walked towards his dormitory and he told me you had been with him in the prefect's bath. And then traipse in."

"Well, he lied." I shrugged, walking past him.

"Did he? Explain to me then why your hair is not styled." He followed me with out pretense.

"Obviously the moisture must have gotten to it. Greenhouses trap heat, which is what they are designed for."

"Oh moisture indeed, it's half wet." He ran a hand over it and then came down and grabbed my own hand. "No dirt from the weeding I see."

"I rinsed it off before I left; you know how I am about dirt."

"I thought I knew how you were about dirt but if you're hanging about with dirty blood like that"-

"Shut-up. You have no idea what you're talking about. Go to bed Gregory. Just go to bed."

Alright, so Tom had captured my attention for a few minutes. I had quite been planning on him never doing it again. But he did.

Two weeks later we were sitting in Visions and Pursuits, which was sort of an interesting mesh of politics and history. The class was rather advanced and most students who signed up were either in Slytherin or Ravenclaw. As Halloween approached we finally got around to talking about the biggest political debate of the times: the Dark Lord Grindelwald. The Slytherins had been anxious to get around to him; we all found his tactical genius and political nerve rather fascinating. The Ravenclaws thought we were all sick and power-hungry. We thought they were all pansies.

"Now, class, though there is dispute on the ideals Grindelwald holds in high esteem, I believe we can all agree that he is statedly evil."

Of course, the prefect had to raise his hand and say something.

"Honestly does he always have an opinion about ?" I whispered to Celeste Caldwell, my best friend, who was seated beside me. She only nodded before rolling her eyes.

"Yes, Thomas would you like to add something?" Professor Exedra looked across the room and smiled at her star pupil.

"Actually, I do hope you don't find me rude. However, I must disagree with you."

Her smile ebbed just a little.

"Really?" she choked back a laugh, "Would you mind defending your argument?"

"It is only that you say the Dark Lord is evil. To be evil is to be completely corrupt."

"Isn't he? He goes about killing people for no reason!" a Ravenclaw boy exclaimed. A few choruses of agreement were heard on their side. They seemed utterly offended. Tom coolly turned to the class.

"He doesn't harm without purpose. That would be exceedingly unintelligent."

"So what your opinion Tom? If not evil, then what?" Professor Exedra looked at him eager for an explanation. He turned his attention back to the front of the room but allowed his voice to be loud enough so the Ravenclaws could easily hear their defeat.

"I believe he simply understands that to have power one must be ruthless. Certain… necessary harms must be inflicted in order to obtain a certain goal."

"How can be a necessary harm?"

Tom turned once more to the boy who again challenged his opinion with ignorance.

"Clearly you do not understand war tactics." He bit off before turning back around.

"Clearly you do not understand humanity." I heard the boy murmur to his friends. I glared at them.

"agree with Riddle." I spoke up clearly.

Many 'So do I.'s could be heard from the Slytherins.

"Sometimes a sacrifice must be made and if one is truly serious about reaching one's goal, sacrifice should not be a problem. It isn't Tom's fault none of you have real ambition." I hissed.

Class ended with a serious tension in the air that I honestly could not have enjoyed more. As we filed out towards the Great Hall for lunch I was gently pulled away from the stream of people bursting forth into the corridors.

"I wanted to say thank you for defending me." Riddle…again.

I kept walking, avoiding his gaze, but he only followed.

"I was not defending you…I was simply showing up the Ravenclaws."

"Well I thank you all the same."

"Alright then." My tone was airy and I was hoping he would catch on that I did not want him around. I'd be meeting up with my friends for lunch any minute and the last thing I needed was to be seen with such riffraff.

"Generally when someone says 'thank you', the proper response would be 'you're welcome'."

"Yes and generally when someone is ignored the proper response is to take the hint, so I suppose we are both guilty of social faux pas."

"Your boyfriend certainly seems to think we are."

I stopped and turned on him.

"How dare you. You had no right to even tell him what happened." I refrained from yelling, keeping my voice down and my tone bitter.

"Might I remind you that I am a prefect? I had every right to tell him."

"Well, you shouldn't have."

"Why? You must feel at least a little liberation."

He was right but I certainly didn't feel the need to inform him. Before he walked off he smirked.

"The next time you feel the need to re-sort me, just remember: A real Gryffindor would have never taken such satisfaction in telling him."