Why, you ask?
Because She showed him love
And because He understood it
Chapter two
Dumbledore's unexpected visit could have turned ugly.
Fortunately, it did not.
Tom didn't even led the man into his room. No, he was so full of questions that he could not keep himself contained long enough to get there.
So he sat down with the professor in the kitchen on the first floor that was unsurprisingly empty. No point of people going there if there was no food to cook.
"You are like me, Tom. You are a wizard," the professor said.
"Hogwarts is a school. School of magic, where we can teach you how to control your powers, Tom."
The professor explained how he would be picked up by one of the teachers from Hogwarts to go and buy some school supplies during summer holidays and than on the first of September he would board a train to Hogwarts.
Tom was soaking the information like a sponge. He knew his eyes were showing his hunger. Hunger for knowledge and something else the professor couldn't quite grasp yet.
All that hunger was circling around one name. Hermione.
She showed him kindness, she fed him, made sure he was warm. She cared for him and she was magical like him.
Tom has never had any friends. All of the orphans were afraid of him, because he hurt them when they tried to attack him. And he made sure it was always just one time warning. They called him a freak. A monster. An abomination. Those words hurt him too. He almost started to believe them.
But after all those long years he finally found someone special. She was good and brave and everything bright. And so very warm.
Her scarf was still around his neck. It smelt like her and he never wanted to take it of.
She wasn't just his first friend. She was his. Period.
"There is this girl, magical like me," Tom finally said to the older man.
"I met her earlier today, she said she was also going to Hogwarts for the first time... Could I... I mean... She is my friend and I would like to go with her."
Tom felt his cheeks were getting warmer. Was he blushing?! He never blushed in his entire life.
"Ah you must have met with Hermione Granger, right? She is the only other future first year living in London at the moment," Dumbledore speculated with a knowing spark in his eyes.
Tom felt quite uncomfortable and that was making him angry. She was his and he didn't want this man to think about her too much, he did not share his things and this personality trait now also applied to his people, well one specific person. She was his for as long as he was breathing.
Tom did not really understood what was happening to him. It was rare for him to feel anything beside sadness and anger. So he didn't recognized the warmth that has taken root inside his very soul. He only understood it was because of the girl. His Hermione.
Tom looked at the older man with a look of steel and in that moment Dumbledore knew.
He saw the determination in the boys eyes and the will to go against the world to keep the person he needed most.
Ah, to be young again. Dumbledore thought. Reminiscing about his own loved ones.
"Well it's not really a standard procedure but I think I could make an arrangement for you two to be picked up together... If Miss Granger won't have any objections... And if you will be, from now on, on your best behavior! We do not want Mrs. Cole to worry about you, right? I shall leave now, Tom. Have a good day! "
And with a kind smile and swirl of his coat the man left Tom to his own devices.
On his way outside, Dumbledore couldn't help but chuckle. Oh, Tom. I've met Miss Granger already. She will keep you on your toes for sure.
Shortly after Dumbledore took his leave, Mrs. Cole stood true to her earlier words. Tom was to be punished.
They stopped with physical punishments when Tom was still very young. His magic manifested early and protected him against anyone who would wish to harm him. Without exception. Man, woman, adult or child. Tom's magic could not stay silent and let him bleed.
But they found other forms of punishments.
That day Mrs. Cole decided that Tom would be confined to his room for two weeks and was let out only for sporadic meals and to use a bathroom.
Two weeks... He would not be able to get to Hermione.
She will be waiting for him on Sunday and he won't be able to leave to meet her.
Will she feel hurt? Will she blame him? Oh of course she will! I should have told her I am from the orphanage! Tom thought bitterly.
He knew she deserved to know, but there was not a good opportunity to tell her. Their chat earlier that day was so pleasant, Tom didn't want to ruin it with his misfortune.
And you didn't want her to think lesser of you. His subconscious whispered.
Tom wanted to burn this hell hole done. But he knew he couldn't. Dumbledore would knew and he could forbid him from attending Hogwarts. His warning was not to be ignored.
No matter, his handprints were still burnt into the wooden desk. Branding it with his rage.