Anna's POV:
It was quiet on the way back home, to London. My mind reeled on the events that had happened in the last 24 hours I couldn't help be saddened by the letters I received. Both of my parents wrote letters to me. Each of them explaining the situation and the gravity of it to me in their own way.
"Sophie, stop worrying." Tom said, looking up from the book he was reading.
"I can't help it, Tommy. What if I never see them anymore? What if I end up in at an orphanage? I'm scared Tommy, really scared." I whispered, not making eye contact.
"Your parents left you with my mother. To tell you the truth, my mother is a loving person, strict at times, but she has always and always will have the best interest at heart. So, stop worrying I won't let anything happen to you." He promised, sitting down next to me before wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Try to be more understanding big brother, I'm sure we'd be on edge if the same thing happened to us. Honestly, she has every reason to feel that way." Leilah said, placing the book she read on her lap.
"Leilah..." Tom said, warningly, his hands clenching into fists as he scowled at her.
"No...no, it 's-it's alright, Tom, she's right. I'm just on edge because I have no idea what is going on..." I admitted.
I felt as Leilah leaned forward patting my leg before Tom wrapped his arm around my shoulder once more.
"You need not worry, Annie, Tom's right. Our mother is strict when need be, but she is a loving person, and will always have your best interest at heart. So, don't worry. We'll all protect you." She said, throwing a smile my way before turning her attention back to the book on her lap.
Quiet ensued through our compartment soon after that. I let myself close my eyes and forced myself to relax, allowing the peaceful quietness to loll me to sleep.
"Why do you insist on reading that muggle rubbish the library provides?" Tom asked suddenly.
"Tom, not everyone believes in that pureblood supremacy. You've been hanging around with the wrong crowd, obviously. I told mother this would happen, but like always, she didn't believe me. " She replied, rolling her eyes.
"Blood purity, and status is important. It gets you status among other things in this world. You might want to consider that before opening your fat trap and blabbing to mother about things that don't concern you." Tom quipped.
"Alright you two, quit your bickering, I think we're here." I told them, unwilling to open my eyes just yet.
I felt as we arrived at King's Cross Station, just a bit after seven in the evening. It was rather dark, even in the train station, and even darker out in the street. Tom held my hand, Leilah slowly trailing behind us as we stepped off the train. Merope had sent us an owl instructing us to meet her by the entrance of the station, so we grabbed a trolley, fixed our stuff neatly before Tom began pushing it towards our destination. Leilah choosing to get her own trolley, and continued behind us. Luckily, Merope was already making her way towards the entrance as we exited the station. She smiled at us in response, and hugged us all fiercely to her.
"Annie, dear, I need to talk to you, to all of you." She said, looking at Tom and me in the eye, her forest green eyes gleaming with unspoken words. We both nodded, grabbing hands as she looked at us.
I looked over at Tom, worried, feeling as we both tensed.
What could it possibly be? I wondered, and turned to him in question, trying not to be worried. He shrugged in response as he watched the taxi driver load our things with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Is it more serious than we thought mother?" Leilah asked, her brows creasing with worry as she took our tense huddle positions
"Keep your owls steady now, dears." She said as we all squeezed into the back of the taxi.
The taxi drove us to the outskirts of Little Hangleton, Merope quickly helped us exit the taxi, taking out all of the things with the help of the driver. She then paid him and proceeded to make our way towards their hidden house.
"Hurry along now, children." She said, rushing us into the house quickly.
She then proceeded to flick her wand in the air, making the luggage disappear into the closet between the two rooms.
"Tom, Annie, Morgan there's a bit of a serious situation going on right now. Your parents have left you with me, under my care and protection. They've made me your legal guardian in the magic world, as well as here. I'm going to try to be honest with you now, I am not sure I have every detail of the situation but it is clear that they'll be gone a while. Until then I promise you that I will protect you to my best extent." She said, leaning down to make eye contact with me, while putting an assuring hand on my shoulder.
"On a lighter note, I have a surprise for you. Both of you." She said, standing upright, and heading down the narrow hall into one of the rooms.
A second later she came out with Misty, my white and gray cat, in her arms. I felt my eyes tear up as I watched Misty leap of Merope's arms as she saw me, running and leaping onto my lap. Purring happily as I stroked her head lovingly, and scratched behind her ear just like she loved.
"I missed you too girl." I cooed, hugging her to me.
Tom chuckled, shaking his head at me, before he sat down next to me on the love seat that was there other that the armchair.
See Sophie? I promise, we'll protect you. You have my word. He thought, as he patted my leg gently.
"Ooh, I forgot you had a cat! What's her name?" Leilah asked, as she pet her.
"Misty. I named her that because her fur is the exact shade of sea mist and fog. I believe my dad said it is known as sea smoke?" I explained.
"Why not name her Smokey?" She asked.
"That sound more like a name for a male cat." I replied wrinkling my nose at the name. From the corner of my eye I saw Tom roll his eyes at us before grabbing a book and throwing himself on the love seat.
Christmas Day wasn't the same without my parents. Despite Leilah's attempts to help me feel better about their absence. Along with Tom and his mother's attempts to distract me.
The day had begun with me waking up from a chilling nightmare.
One, that I didn't truly understand. I hadn't expected to wake up that morning screaming my head off. Leilah jumping out of her bed, running out of the room on to return with an half asleep Tom, who ran into the room with his wand raised in the air as if ready to strike anyone down. At the sight of him with his wand raised, in nothing but a pair of sleeping pants and a tank top, and his hair sticking up in all directions, I lost it.
I began laughing so hard I fell off the bed with loud thud. Which ended up with Tom and Leilah proceeding to laugh their heads off too and end up on the floor laughing their heads off at me; pointing as I laid splayed on the ground.
My feet were still on the bed, so I was on the floor with my legs sticking up in the air. Lucky for my nightdress is long and was tangled in my legs. It was a while before we all could stop laughing, and even longer before I could get off the floor.
Are you alright, Soph? He thought to me as he helped untangle myself from the blankets and helped me off the ground.
I didn't make eye contact with him. I simply thought of the nightmare I had. Waited for him to finish watching it. I felt as he walked over to my side of the room, climbed into my bed before giving me a comforting hug. I couldn't help the tears that spilled at that moment. It was the first Christmas I ever spent without my parents, it was felt like I would never see them again.
"Tom, why don't you stay with Annie? I'll go sleep in your room, its clear that she needs you. I'll see you all later." She said smiling at us as she left the room.
We both stared at her as she left the room, shutting the door with a soft click behind as she walked out. Tom sighed tiredly before turning to look me in the eye.
"Nightmares are things of our worst fears trying to get the better of us. Don't let this nightmare get the better of you. You are better than that Sophie, stronger then that too." He whispered, as we laid in the bed, waiting for it to be late enough that we could get out of bed.
Sometime after that we both fell asleep. Merope found us like this when she walked in the room to wake us up.
"Where's Leilah? What's wrong, Annie, dear?" She asked as Tom got out of my bed. His cheeks turning bright red, spread to the tips of his ears as he climbed into back his bed.
" Oh, she's in Tom's room. I-I had a nightmare and w-woke up screaming. Tom was comforting me, we watched the sun start to rise. We fell asleep shortly after that." I explained, willing my blood not to rush to my cheeks in embarassment.
"Nightmare? Oh, dear, I hope you feel better." She said, patting my leg as she stood. "Come on, breakfast will get cold if we all stay in here. We can get dressed afterwards and open the presents we got each other." She added.
By the time I made it down the staircase, Leilah was already there, helping her mother set the table, placing the platefuls of food round the table.
The rest of the day was overall good. Merope had been cooking all day, she and Leilah baked cookies and let us eat them as we opened the gifts.
My parents sent us all gifts, two each. Merope bought us all two gifts too. Tom and I bought gifts for one another along with Leilah.
I received a new elegant dress from my mother and a beautiful silver chain. My father got me a book and a bracelet, it had three rings in one and had a serpent's head at one end of it, with gleaming rubies for eyes. Merope bought me headbands and different accessories for my hair. I loved Tom's gift the most, though he seemed reluctant to hand over the box at first. When I opened it I realized it was a gleaming ring with an emerald in it.
Did you like it? My mom helped me get it for you, it took me months worth of chores to be able to afford it. He explained, his cheeks tinging with pink, as he though of everything he had to do in order to afford it.
I love it ,Tommy. Thank you. You've really made this Christmas unforgettable. I thought throwing my arms around him to hug him tightly.
Merope got us all new cloaks. Mine was an emerald color with silver lining through it. Tom's was more of a forest green with the same silver lining on the edges. Leilah's was black with sliver embroidery, wondering why it was black instead of blue since she was a Ravenclaw.
"I love it, thank you Merope." I said, as my eyes began to water.
"Oh, darling, I bought these for you as soon as I received the news that you were both sorted into Slytherin... along with Leilah who refused to get blue, so I got her a black one instead of blue." She said, her eyes shining with pride as she looked at all of us.
It was just an hour before the sunset, the festivities were done, and the house was a complete mess. Merope, Leilah and I quickly working on cleaning the house.
"Merope, I was hoping you could explain to me... something my parents told me about my family's history." I said, after we had cleaned up the house.
I saw Leilah stiffen slightly, as she looked over at me, a questioning brow lifted. I nodded my head at her, before turning my attention back to Merope.
Tom had gone out for a walk into the small trees that surround the house. Not that it would stop him from overhearing the conversation, seeing as he could hear it in my thoughts. I shook my head slowly trying to clear it and failed miserably as I turned my attention to Merope.
"What would you like to know, Sophie, dear?" She asked, sitting down in her chair by the fire as she knitted something.
Leilah and I choosing to sit on the couch that faced her rather than the love seat.
"My-my father explained to me that -there is linage in our family of all four houses in Hogwarts. The Hogwarts Original Four." I said, looking down at Misty as she purred at me feet..
I saw Merope's eyes widen slightly, and mouth fall open. "M-my father says that we are direct descendants of Slytherin. More like distant relatives. I can speak parseltongue and read minds, transfer my thoughts." I added carefully.
I felt as Leilah grip my hand in hers and squeeze, as she sat tense next to me. Suddenly I felt as if my mind got fuzzy for a moment before clearing up again.
You do realize this is opening a can of worms right? I heard her 'voice' in my thoughts.
My eyes widened as I looked back at her surprised. I-I can hear you too? How? I thought shocked.
I am Tom's twin sister. It was only a matter of time before one of you discovered that I could hear both of you. Aside from that, I hear both of you when you are 'talking' its rather annoying. can you imagine hearing more than one 'voice' inside your head aside from your own? She thought.
How is that even possible? I thought shocked.
I can hear you two, but I never put in my own thought. I have to be physically touch you in order for you to be able to hear me. That's the only difference. She explained.
I nodded in response before looking back at Merope wide-eyed.
"That's how you and my Tom have been communicating? You both have a telepathic link." She whispered, gasping in realization.
"That's what your mother said when she helped me all those years ago. Our children's lives are entwined. That is what she meant." She whispered to herself.
Leilah blinked at her response, as did I. I could feel as the atmosphere in the entire house began to change, tension began to grow and spread through out the room.
"This changes a lot more than I thought." She said, suddenly meeting my shocked wide eyes with her wide forest green ones, shooting out of her seat.
Tom chose to walk in the room in that moment, his eyes widening as he saw his mother looking at me like she was about to do something weird. He carefully walked into the room, standing with his back towards me, his shoulders tense, as he looked at his mother. Leilah standing beside him, as if to protect me from what ever she was about to do
"Mum, what's going on?" He asked, his voice careful.
She looks stunned stupid, what'd you say to her Sophie? He thought, tilting his head to the side, as he waited for me to respond.
I just wanted to get some information. I wanted to know if there is a reason we have a link, that causes us to have a connection, hear our thoughts. I thought back.
That's an awful thing to think, Tom. Leilah thought chastisingly towards Tom.
He tensed before looking back at her shock as hell to say the least. I let out a giggle at his reaction before he threw a glare my way, effectively shutting me up.
"Let's go into town." Tom suggested one day, as we all tried to think of something to do to escape the boredom I felt.
"Can you talk to serpents?" I asked them suddenly.
Leilah looked rather disgusted, but nodded all the less. "I avoid them though." She replied, grimacing.
Tom smirked and nodded, before standing up and leaving the room, coming back in a few minutes later with a small garden snake wrapped around his arm. Leilah let out a squeal before climbing onto the bed, and scooting back all the way to the wall.
"Say something to it." I said, looking fascinated at it.
Go to her. He ordered in what sounded like a hiss, as he sat down on his bed.
It slithered towards me, as I watched frozen on my bed.
Stop! Don't get any closer or I'll blow you to pieces. I threatened in a menacing hiss response.
Tom watched smirking at me as the snake slithered back to him. Which he proceeded to pick up and take back to its home, within the garden.
I was so lost in thought that I hadn't realized he walked back into the room until he sat down on his bed again.
"Are we going to go into town today?" He asked once, turning his attention to us.
I nodded looking at him as we all grabbed our things, leaving a note on the table for Merope, who had left earlier into town. We had just walked out of small book shop when Tom ran into a man. He looked like the older version of him, which froze us all in our place in utter shock.
"Watch where you walk, stupid child." The man sneered at him.
Leilah tensed beside me as she looked at the man with a hidden emotion in her eyes. I watched her for several seconds before turning to see what was going on.
"I believe you were the one to run into me, sir." Tom replied politely, looking him up and down.
"Why you no good insolent little-" The man said, grabbing Tom by his raven-colored locks.
I watched frozen where I stood as he yanked harshly on Tom's raven locks, causing Tom to let out a pained yelp, as I was about to reach for my wand but I froze once more as the man picked up Tom by the lapels of his jacket, a foot from the ground. Beside me I noticed Leilah's eyes had narrowed and her right hand was twitching badly.
"Let my son go, Tom. Now." Merope said fiercely, suddenly appearing at our side.
The sound of her voice and harsh tone, made both Toms , Leilah, and I go rigid. I watched as the man's eyes went wide as he took in Merope, who stood in before Leilah and me. The way his eyes scanned her greedily from her head all the way down to her toes, made my skin crawl.
He let Tom drop to the floor with a hard thud, causing Tom to groan before he briskly got to his feet, and stood facing him, his body rigid. I could tell it was taking everything in both of the Riddle twins not to hex the man that stood before us.
She stepped before Leilah and me protectively and grabbed Tom's shoulders pulling him back towards her. The man's shock turned into a menacing sneer, as he watched the look in Tom's face. It was an expression full of anger, shock, and pain, I felt myself step forward, grabbing his hand and beginning to pull him towards my side. Quickly scanning him to see if he was badly hurt from the drop.
"I will overlook anything you have done. Leaving my side, ignoring my pleas as you left, but I will not let you put a single finger on my son. You will come to regret the day you crossed me, Tom Riddle. You think you know pain as of now, but you don't know anything. Not to worry, I will make sure you learn. I promise you that..." She said, the anger her eyes held looking at the man as he shrank away.
The man's face grew red, as he tried to take a step forward menacingly, towards us. I felt my shock as he did, increase tenfold.
Stop! I thought, as he froze mid-step, not knowing what else to do.
Leave, now! I added, watching in utter astonishment as he turned and left. Tom and I shared a look, Leilah staring at him with an unreadable expression as we watched the man's figure disappear down the street.
Their mother was right, being here changed everything, we just didn't know to what extent things were going to change.