Sorry about the long length between the last update and this one! Have had some writers block! This chapter is a short one but the next update isn't too far off! I'm expecting to have it up by the weekend! We will see how things go!

As usual! Thanks to MissRissa81 for your amazing alphaing of this story! Your encouragement keeps me going when it seems like I can't!

The first few years will be synapses of scenes and then as we move along it'll become darker and chapters will become longer and more connected! So stick with me!

Hope you enjoy xx

September 10, 1938

School had started off almost two weeks ago and Tom and Hermione had hardly been separated, they had discussed on what they would do to find out more about Tom's family and they had decided to go to the library and start researching the founders.

If anyone was to ask what the pair was doing, they could say their interest lay in finding about the great witches and wizards who had built their wonderous school. After their last class of the day they both made their excuses and walked off to the library.

"Excuse me, Madame Pince? We were wondering if you could point us to where the information on the Founders?" Hermione questioned as they made their way into the library, it wouldn't be prudent to waste time in their quest.

"Over by the restricted section, dear." The librarian said.

Tom lead the way and they soon found themselves in a quiet section of the library with dust all around, it looked as if not many students came that way. The books were all ancient and Hermione worried if they touched the pages, they would crumble.

Running his hands along the spines, Tom picked out some books and laid them on a table that was sitting in the corner. They both sat down and each chose a book, starting to skim to see if there was anything about any items the founders left behind.

"It says here that Rowena Ravenclaw had a diadem, her daughter Helena, took it to become better than her mother. She ran to Albania and the Baron was sent after her to bring her back he stabbed her and killed himself in his grief. Rowena kept it from the other founders that it was gone. Maybe we could find it! We could talk to Helena and see where she hid it." Hermione said as she continued to read through the book. "I'm sure you'd be able to get the location out of her easily enough."

Tom nodded, surely Helena Ravenclaw wouldn't be too hard to convince, he would have to put only a bit of his charm into it.

"Let's do it, she should be easy to get. What other items does it say she has?"

"Nothing that I can see, but we can go into more books and ask her daughter when you talk to her. Let's concentrate on one founder at a time." Hermione looked back down at the tome in front of her and started to write notes on Ravenclaw so they had the best possible chance of finding everything there was to find.

Tom peered around the library, watching the other dedicated students and noticed Hermione's brother and the rest of the Slytherin's headed their way.

"Hermione, the rest are coming, let's pick this back up later."

Not wanting them all to know what the pair were working on yet. Hermione folded her parchment up and placed it in her bag placing a sliver of parchment in the page they had been studying, not wanting to have to flip through all the nonsense again.

Walking up to the other Slytherins, they greeted one another and Theodore spoke, "We noticed you weren't at lunch so brought you some and to tell you it's almost time for Charms so we had better head down there."

Walking past the librarian, they all waved to her. Hermione stuck between Theodore and Tom looked forward to Charms. Today they were starting their first practical lessons.

oOo

September 15, 1938

Tom, Hermione, Theodore and the other first year Slytherins all headed out of Potions, they had their Head of House for a double that morning and had earned seventy house points for completing their potion, not many of the Gryffindors had managed the task and you could see them scowling at the Slytherin's across the room.

Hermione hadn't expected to like potions as much as she did, but as she got used to the way Slughorn ran the classroom she easily picked up the craft.

Tom hadn't struggled with the potions they had been tasked with at all, and he looked quite proud of that fact. Every time a Professor or older student would compliment them on something he would preen under the attention. Hermione expected it was due to the fact he hadn't gotten much positive attention at the orphanage he had been shoved in.

No one but the other Slytherin's knew of his past, he preferred it that way and the Slytherin's protected their own so he wouldn't cop any flack from them.

The first years still slept in the main room of the common room, all preferring each other's company. Instead of being half and half and not getting to know their whole year, they got to know everyone in the house in the evenings and could see how Slytherin was a real family away from home.

As one, heading toward the Great Hall they were all too focused on the conversation, they didn't see the smirking Gryffindors up ahead and didn't expect Hermione to be pushed back.

Instantly all wands were pulled and pointed at the Gryffindors. "Mind telling us why you pushed my twin?"

"She was annoying me, why else would I push her?" The only female in the line spoke.

"How was she annoying you? She wasn't even talking to you, if you didn't notice." Tom scowled at the girl.

"She is a slimy show off and someone needs to drop her down a step."

"Oh and I suppose you think that someone is you?" Avery spoke up in his quiet voice. Standing in front of Hermione the three boys formed a wall. The other Slytherin females just happened to be protected as well.

"Yeah I think I'm the perfect one to do it. Can't she speak for herself?"

"I can speak, but why would I lower myself to speak to some halfblood scum, like you?" Hermione stated as she pushed through the boys to stand nose to nose.

Noticing Tom's sharp intake of breath she put her hand on his and squeezed, letting him know she didn't see him like the rest.

"So you are one of those purebloods?"

Hermione stepped back, "If you mean we actually have taste in who we deal with and know what pure magic is, then yes I'm one of those purebloods."

The Gryffindor snorted and shook her head, "Should of known that a Slytherin would have that mindset."

"Now if you don't mind, we have better things to do than stand around and lower our intellects by talking to you." Hermione said and gestured to the others, pushing past the Gryffindors they walked into the Great Hall. Hermione sat between Theodore and Tom as usual and leant toward him.

"You are better than them, you wouldn't be in Slytherin if you weren't. Don't think for a second I see you in the same way as the pathetic Gryffindors."

Nodding, Tom smiled at her and served them both sandwiches feeling better about the confrontation and what had been said.

oOo

September 30, 1938

Tom had gotten used to the classes and their new lunchtime routine quickly, and Hermione and Theodore were the only ones that he had spent any time with on the last few weekends. The others in their years were more interested in spending the last few heat filled days out in the school grounds.

Whereas; Hermione and Theodore preferred to spend their time catching up on their homework, or going to the library. The research for the information on the founders and their descendants was going better than Tom had expected, they had found a lot of information on things that were related to the founders, the sword of Gryffindor, Locket of Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuffs Cup, the Ravenclaw Diadem and a ring that belonged to Slytherins descendants.

Hermione had been a spitfire going through the books and pulling things out that had related. They had been researching for ten days and they had a lot of information already, Tom couldn't think of how much they would find in the years to come.

Tom wanted to find all that he could, and Hermione seemed to be as interested as he was. She was the perfect person to research and study with. She didn't fill the silence with unnecessary conversation and got on with the task.

They had only begun to scratch the surface of the Founders, they had more on Ravenclaw as they had spent their time researching her. Only looking at other objects if they came up in relation to her.

Planning and researching what they had for the founders had proved to take up more time than they had expected and they had been questioned by the others on what they spent so much time in the library doing.

Professor Dumbledore had been trying to figure out what they were doing as well, as he had come across them in the library during lunch one afternoon and had questioned their presence. Not looking like he had wanted anyone to be in the library.

After that day he seemed to watch them closer in class and in the Great Hall when they made it to a meal. They had made more of an effort to after he had become suspicious and had only spent three days in there in the previous week.

As they packed up and went to move out of the classroom Professor Dumbledore spoke up, "Mr Riddle, please stay behind I have something to discuss."

"Yes sir." Hermione looked at him and he shrugged he had no clue what he could possibly have to speak about. They all walked to the front expecting to be allowed to stay with him not wanting to leave without him.

"You may go, this only concerns Mr Riddle, here." Dumbledore said gesturing toward the door. The Slytherin's paused for a moment and then walked out standing just outside the classroom.

The door slammed shut by itself and Tom suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"What did you need, Professor?"

"The orphanage got in contact, they requested you stay at school for the Christmas Break and Easter. They know you can't stay during the Summer holidays so they are willing to take you back then but any other breaks you are to remain here."

Tom looked down at his feet, not wanting to show the glee he felt at getting a real break from the orphanage. He couldn't stand it there, even remaining alone at Hogwarts was better than going back there.

"Is that all sir? I kind of guessed that would be the case."

"Yes, Tom you may join your friends."

Tom quickly left the classroom, not wanting to linger for too long. Since his visit at the orphanage he hadn't felt comfortable around the Professor, he felt like there was something else lingering in the shadows around him.

As soon as he exited the classroom Hermione started to question him on why Dumbledore wanted him to stay alone, he knew she would want to know and the others were probably curious as well but he didn't expect to be bombarded straight away.

"Calm down Hermione, he only wanted to tell me that the orphanage asked me to stay here throughout the Christmas break and any breaks that I could, any less mouths that they have to feed during that time is preferable for them."

"You won't be alone, we will stay." Hermione nodded as if her word was law.

"You don't have to cancel your plans for me, go home and enjoy your Christmas with your family. I'll be fine."

"Nah mate, we will stay. Our parents wouldn't be happy if we left a friend alone at Christmas anyway. I'll go and write to mum and let her know."

Theodore walked off and most of the Slytherins left with him.

Hermione remained walking beside him, "I can't believe you would think we would let you stay here alone with the other houses."

"Sorry, I didn't want to be a burden."

"You'll never be a burden to us Tom." Squeezing his hand gently they finished walking to the Great Hall in silence, Theo came in halfway through dinner saying he had sent the letter. All the Slytherin's stated they had also sent letters home and Tom felt a bubble of belonging bubble up inside. He felt like he was actually apart of this group of kind kids.