July 20, 1980
Excitement coursed through Anna's veins as she got dress. She couldn't help but feel that things were about to change, a nagging feeling began to form at the pit of her stomach. Her mother had explained to her what she should expect from the new school she was going to begin attending, when she read with her the books that she had gotten two weeks prior. Her excitement only increased as she read through the history of the school. She was lucky enough to have been able to get a book on magical creatures, marveling at all the specimen that she read about.
When she felt like she was ready, she quietly exited her room, saying goodbye to her cat, Misty, before she began making her way down the stairs to meet her parents. The fur ball of a cat purred at her, and went back to laying on the bed uninterested. Anna laughed before closing the door behind her, her things by the front door, her owl Chloe in her cage waiting for the trip too.
She couldn't shake the feeling of unease as she stared at the disappearing shape in the horizon of greenery, the house seemed to be shrinking in size as the car lead them farther and farther away. She let out tired sigh looking back to the front of the car towards her parents as they made their way through the now familiar busy city of London.
The car came to a halt in front of a small dingy looking inn, she wondered who lived here. Not noticing as her mother stepped out of the car, disappearing into a darkened path that lead to the half dead greenery. When she did, she saw it was already too late to duck. Her mother was making her way to their parked car with Mrs. Riddle and a scowling Tom, with a smirking Leilah trailing behind them slowly. Trying to fight the scowl that began forming on her face as they pulled the door open. Pulling out fairytale book she's chosen to bring for the train ride instead.
"Good morning, Annie." The raven-haired beauty greeted her, happily.
"G-good morning Mrs. R-riddle." She greeted back in response, keeping her eyes at the book placed on her lap..
"Hiya, Annie. It's great to see you again." Leilah said, as she climbed into the car, sitting down right next to the girl.
"Good morning, Tom." Annie greeted as she tried smiling at him.
The smile she's managed to produce was wiped clean off her face when she heard his response and tone.
"Yes, good morning..." He mumbled in a clipped tone.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle. Do not use that tone with her. You know better than that." His mother scolded; making him wince in response.
"Told you not to..." Leilah sang, ignoring the evil eye her mother threw her way.
When they finally reached King's Cross Station, the aggressiveness in both children seemed to evaporate. With their attitudes long forgotten, they both practically flew out of car in excitement.
Annie bounced on the balls of her feet along with Leilah as they waited for her father to load the wide trolley with her things, from the neatly wrapped brown paper packages, to the trunk and her beautiful owl's cage. Tom's things were loaded in the same cart next hers, as well as Leilah things, rolling her eyes as Tom's and her owl tried to nip at each other in a playful manner.
All three children walked amazed as they searched where the entrance was to the Hogwarts express. The three seemed shocked as Annie's parents began slowing down, until they saw platform nine and ten. Lucy grabbed both Anna and Tom's hands before looking over at Merope nodding at her to follow her, grabbing Leilah's hand firmly in her own. She then ran quickly towards platform nine and ten.
Anna held in the scream that formed in her throat as she saw them nearing the brick wall, bracing herself the impact, but seconds later she opened eyes and realized that they had ran right through the wall. Tom's expression was almost as comical as hers. She walked eagerly towards the train, Hogwarts Express, she read as her eyes turned up to see the other signs that hung, platform 9 ¾. Leilah's eyes wide as her owl's as her mother dragged her through the portal.
"Wow." She said, sighing happily.
"Took the word right out of my mouth." Tom whispered back, sighing happily too.
"Ditto." Leilah muttered, following behind them.
"Annie, remember what we told you this morning, no matter what house you are sorted into, we will still be just as proud of you and love you the same amount that we always have. Have fun learning, darling girl. I know you will make us proud with whatever you do." Her mom whispered as she hugged her tightly.
"Love,...?" Jonathon whispered to his wife, who in turn ignored him, shrugging the hand he place on her shoulder off.
"Sweetheart, you're going to have to let her get on soon, or she'll miss the express." Johnathon whispered to his wife, unwinding his wife's arms from the little girl before pulling her into a hug of his own.
"Remember to send us an owl whenever you can, bug. Telling us how you are, when you make friends- because you know you will, and what you've learned, if not to give your mother peace of mind and to let her know you are safe." He muttered, as the little girl nodded giggling at her father.
"Love you bug." He whispered, kissing her forehead.
"love you too daddy." She whispered back hugging herself closer to him.
Merope hugged Tom and Leilah proudly, looking them in the eye before she began to speak in a low voice.
"I will be proud of you two no matter what, darlings, remember who you are, who your ancestors are, you are meant for great things. Make me proud, sweethearts." She said, kissing his forehead.
"I will mother." Tom promised, smiling up at her in response.
"As will I." Leilah muttered, feeling unsure.
When Merope let go of her children she saw Johnathon approach Tom and kneel to his eye level. He smiled, as he placed a caring hand on the eleven-year-old boy, who stared up at him in curiosity.
"Tom, I know that you are a bright young man, we know that you will do great things. Now, promise me that you'll watch over Annie and protect her since we won't be able to." He said, looking at him in an unreadable expression.
The boy plastered on a smile, and nodded his head slowly. "Yes sir, of course I will do my best to watch over Sophie." He replied, looking over at the small girl.
"That a boy. Great then, we will see you two during Christmas break, alright." Johnathon said straightening up, mussing his hair.
Tom nodded began to walk towards the train slowly, Anna had barely stepped onto the train and turned to wave goodbye one last time before she ducked into the train and sat in an empty compartment.
Leilah smiled back at the three adults before turning and following closely behind Tom onto the Hogwarts express.
Tom stared out the window, marveling at all the greenery that whooshed by the window, wondering how long the trip would last. Leilah sat on the other side reading a book she had brought with her for the train ride, enjoying the quiet presence while it lasted. As Anna walked into the small compartment that they sat in, the train shifted causing her to fall onto Tom's lap, and bonk heads with him in the process. Leilah let out a snort, gaining a scowl from her brother and the girl who still rested on his lap.
Tom didn't know whether to be mad or laugh at the expression on the girl's pretty heart shaped face. But laughter won when she began to get up and repeated the process once more as the train jumbled once more.
"I-I'm so sorry Tommy, I swear it was an accident." She said, trying to wiggle off his lap. She gave up and crawled to the seat next to him.
"It's alright, it didn't hurt... that much." He said, still laughing.
His sister, sitting there watching the exchange with curious eyes.
It took what felt like days to reach another train station. There an elder looking man waited for them as they got out. Tom and Annie held hands as they followed the man onto the row of river boats, there they got into one that had pale blonde hair and sharp blue eyes. The girl sitting next to him had blonde hair and a black strip sections all over her head.
Leilah got onto another boat with a girl with crazy black curly hair, and a boy with dark eyes and hair. Their boat ride filled with silence and wonder.
"Hi, I'm Annamarie Riel, this is Tom Riddle." Anna told them excitedly, as they looked around them .
"Pleasure. My name is Lucius Malfoy and this is Narcissa Black." He said in a tone that said, 'I'm better than all of the world'.
"Annamarie Riel and Tom Riddle." She mumbled once more.
They all ducked under a bridge before coming to a complete stop in front of a grand stair case. A round woman with a leathery face was waiting for them as they walked up the stairs. Anna looked around amazed, as she thought of the books she read earlier that summer.
"Good evening children, welcome to Hogwarts." She said before a man with a short brown beard and half-moon glasses handed her a list and went back in. She explained the sorting ceremony, and what they were expected to do. As they walked into the Great Hall Anna couldn't help squeezing Tom's hand in fear. She didn't want to end up alone, and not making any friends. Leilah, who was at the front of the crowd, stared in awe around the room, attempting to take in every detail of the room.
"It'll be alright, I promise. Whatever happens your stuck with me. I won't leave your side." He whispered, trying to comfort her. Then the sorting ceremony began.
A beat up old hat sat on top of a three-legged stool. It looked like it needed to be put out of its misery, in Tom's opinion.
It began singing a song, soon as it ended the sorting began. So far there were nine sorted into Gryffindor, seven sorted into Hufflepuff, eight sorted into Raveclaw, and nine sorted into Slytherin. Tom grew anxious as the group of kids began to disperse. He hope Anna was sorted into the same house as him so that he could protect her. Then it happened.
"Leilah Riddle." The pudgy woman called.
Leilah walked slowly towards the three-legged stool, feeling as the short pudgy woman placed the old tattered hat on her head. It was minutes of quietness before he hat moved at the top of her head.
'Hmm. Blood of Slytherin yet characteristics of a Ravenclaw. One outweighs the other. Greatly so. That's why I have to go with...'
"Ravenclaw!" It called.
To her utter shock. She quickly snapped out of it and went to sit down in the Ravenclaw table along with those who now belonged to the house.
"Tom Riddle." The withered, pudgy woman called.
Not a second passed with the hat on his head when the hat had already yelled out which house he was in.
"Slytherin!" It yelled out.
"Sophia Annamarie Riel." The pudgy woman called.
It took fifteen minutes of the hat looking through her mind before it whispered to her, "Undeveloped talents, a great mind, sharp as a knife and cunning as old Slytherin himself. " It let a moment pass before it straightened up and hollard, "Slytherin!"
'Wonderful. They get tp be together but I get stuck here alone.' Leilah thought, disappointed.
Tom smiled inwardly as Anna made her way towards where he sat, and sat between him along with the two kids they sat in the boat with. They shared a sly smile before holding hands, sighing happily.
Oh thank goodness! At least I'll know a few people here, I won't be alone. Anna thought as she sighed in relief again, feeling as a massive weight lifted off her shoulders.
I can protect her now. I can keep the promise.I made. Tom thought as the old guy began to speak in front of the podium.
This man is really boring. They both thought.
That was the first time Tom and Anna could hear each other's thoughts.