To say that that Tom Riddle was annoyed was to say that Adolf Hitler started a pub brawl, Tom Riddle was positively irritated. He had only been reading for about half an hour, when a child he was sure was Gellert Grindelwald reincarnated appeared. The other Dark Lord had greeted him politely before he took out a book and began reading. Tom had also continued his reading, but he was also re-evaluating his plans. Another half an hour, and Harry Potter of all people entered. Potter had nodded politely to both of them, and then began reading himself. Each of them had changed their clothes into robes over the course of their trip, and when they arrived, Harry Potter had stood up, wandlessly shrunk his trunk, pocketed it, and then inclining his head politely, with a "Lord Grindelwald, Lord Voldemort."
And now, Tom Riddle's carefully made, evaluated, re-evaluated, re-re-evaluated plans were destroyed. Tom and Gellert were the last to get off the train, forcing them to sit with a pudgy boy with some baby fat, who he thought might be Neville Longbottom. They had not spoken during the ride, a silence draped over them, Longbottom looking uncomfortable.
'Serves him right for defying me!' thought Tom.
And when they arrived onto dry land, though Tom Riddle would never admit it, he was burning with a single question, What had happened to Potter to change him so much?
Harry Potter was feeling amused as he stepped into the Great Hall. He looked around remembering the first time he had entered the Great Hall, looking around in awe, happy to have made a friend, and desperate to make sure that he did not lose his friend. While Ron was not the worst person to be friends with, Harry had made many mistakes in attempting to keep the friendship, chiefly among them, compromising on his education. While he from among the most knowledgeable, if he was not the most knowledgeable person before his... trip, to the past; the library of Hogwarts was famed across Europe for its collection of books on theory of the most fundamental subjects, and the amount of Spell Books the library contained. Similarly Durmstrang's library was famed for the amount of Obscure books within their walls and as Beauxbaton's library was famed for their collection of books on enchanting. He shook his head to free his thoughts as the Sorting Hat began its song:
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
(From Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
Gellert ignored the students being sorted in order to observe the staff better. He was shaken out of his thoughts by a tap on his arm by the Potter heir as the Deputy Headmistress called out the name, "Greengrass, Daphne"
Thirty Seconds and a call of 'Slytherin' from the hat later, the Deputy Headmistress began reading the next name on the list, "Gri-" she stopped paling and coughing violently, she gave Albus a pleading look then read out the name, "Grindelwald, Gellert"
And as Gellert walked towards the hat the hall fell silent, a current of fear seeming to settle in the hall, as he sat down whispers and mutterings broke out but were silenced by the hat covering his ears.
"Hello Lord Grindelwald. What an interesting mind you have..."
Albus Dumbledore was surprised. No, he was shocked. It had been quite sometime since he had experienced such a level of shock. He had nearly choked on hearing the name, but seeing the child had done the job. The child looked exactly like the teenaged Gellert he had met, from the way he walked to the air of arrogance and power, the only difference being that this Gellert looked much younger then the teenager he had once known. Albus watched as Gellert reached the three-minute mark under the hat, when the hat opened its mouth and spoke, 'Slytherin!'
Albus watched as Severus paled slightly, obviously not pleased to be the Head of the House to the Dark Lord's Namesake. Dumbledore watched as Gellert walked silently to the Slytherin table seemingly unbothered by the silence. Then the sorting continued...
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin"...
Then...
"Potter, Harry"
The undernourished boy walked forward and sat on the stool, and it took ten minutes before the hat opened its brim, 'Slytherin!'
He watched in shock as the boy got up, walked and sat down beside Gellert Grindelwald.
Albus Dumbledore was still slightly in shock, but he nearly felt his heart stop when he heard, "Riddle, T-t-tom."
He got up quickly drawing his wand as Severus paled and cursed loudly, and the boy smirked at them and sat down on the stool.
'Slytherin!' was shouted before the hat even touched the boy's head.
"Tom! I saved you a seat!" said Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore felt a headache coming up.
Something was very wrong. There was a looks like his father and an exact copy. He was not going to enjoy the next week.