Year 1 Chapter 1:
"Hey, are these seats taken?" asked a young girl. Tom only stared, unsure what to make of this new arrival. She was a rather plain looking girl. She had brown hair that ran just below her shoulders, green eyes and skin that was just a shade darker than his own.
"No." he managed after a few moments. She took the seat across from him and looked out the window.
"What year are you going into?" she asked. Tom looked up from his lap, and into her eyes; she stared back unafraid. This was a new experience for Tom. He usually commanded control in such a manner, others bowed their heads to avoid contact with him, though it seemed as though she was challenging him in some manner.
Perhaps it was merely that she was particularly strong willed. Hmmm, he sat in a daze until the train came to a halt. When he had come out of it he found the young girl a sleep right as he had left her.
He seriously considered leaving her there, but for some reason unbeknownst to him he decided upon waking her. "What's your name? If you'll give me that much."
"Tom Riddle." He replied shortly.
"First years please gather around," boomed a familiar voice. All of the first years did just that. It was Professor Dumbledore; he seemed the same as he was the night Tom had first encountered him
"So, you're a first year, eh?" She smiled serenely. Tom glanced over at her, silent. She seemed surreal. He had suddenly set foot on land without knowing when he left it. It was then a grand castle that came into view. A colossal affair it was; he briefly imagined residing in such place, alone.
It seemed an even more magnificent home inside. "Now, I assume everyone that should be here, is indeed here. I am Professor Dumbledore your Transfiguration teacher. You are soon to enter the Great Hall and join your classmates. But, before you can do so I must tell you of the houses. There are four, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
He paused briefly to see who was paying attention then resumed. "These houses will be like your family and at the end of the year the amount of points each house has earned will determine which house…" Tom was already bored, he looked around in search of the girl he had met, however she was no where to be found.
The doors opened and all of the first years ran towards the door and admired the room, one or to stumbled as they looked up at the ceiling.
Everyone got in a line to be sorted on instruction. "Adams, Neil." The hat made itself comfortably on the frightened little child's head and yelled. "HUFFLEPUFF!" The boy took his seat at the Hufflepuff table and the process continued till Dumbledore had reached "Riddle, Tom!"
Tom was new to the magical world but he had a strong connection to Slytherin. The snake, the cunning described by the Sorting Hat's song. As soon as it touch his hairs started to yell "Sly…" then sat on his head a little longer as if being acquainted with an old friend. "SLYTHERIN!"
A loud applause was heard from the Slytherin house and little else. It was because of this he recognized the girl clapping her hands profusely. "Sullivan, Nicole!" The girl started walking forward, Nicole started walking forward. Her name didn't fit her as 'Tom' had never suited him.
The hat took longer for her than all the others, he wished she could be in his house but he sensed she wouldn't be. "GRYFFINDOR!" It was settled then, she would be in Gryffindor, he in Slytherin.
They didn't see each other often, and when they did it was usually in unwanted company. It was Halloween night when Nicole managed to get a note to Tom to meet her somewhere, directions included.
Though this went against his better judgment; his curiosity and desire to meet with her won out. She was after all, the first witch she had met thus far, excluding Professor Dumbledore. He felt quite stupid meeting next to a painting of fruit and thought of the possibility that she might not come, but before his thoughts became further detailed he saw her appear.
"How's Slytherin treating you?" She asked as she did something to the painting. He just stared; but not to intimidate, only to question. Then she went into where the painting was supposed to be. "Aren't you coming?"
He followed reluctantly. "The kitchens?" Nicole shrugged.
"No one comes down here, just a bunch a house elves." She sat down up against a wall. Take a seat." She gestured to an empty piece of floor next to her.
"House elves? How'd you find out about this place anyway?" he asked still standing.
"You sure have a lot of questions for a boy who doesn't give any answers," she smiled faintly and looked back at the floor. He sat down next to her; they talked about different things till morning. He touched upon his dislike of her Head of House, and she shared with him her utter loathing of broomsticks.
They continued their meetings weekly and even learned the names of some of the house elves. They both stayed at Hogwarts for the holidays. Tom living at an orphanage had his reasons but Nicole never gave hers.
Soon exams reared their head but both of them were excellent students, Tom however had always outshone her.
It was becoming harder to meet. Each of their groups of friends were tight. Well more of a group of followers; neither had much in the way of real friends. It was June 14th when they meet in the kitchens for the last time.
"How can you stand that name? Nicole is so common," Tom asked as they entered the kitchens.
"And I suppose 'Tom' is an original name." She countered, a bit defensively.
"I can't stand Tom either. Why would my father, a wizard, have given me such a common name as 'Tom'?" He asked.
"I don't know. My mother named me Nicole, died when I was seven. It's just me and my Dad now."
"I never knew either of my parents." He said quietly.
"Then how do you know?" Nicole asked.
"Know what?"
"That your father was a wizard? It could have been your mother, you could have been a muggle born." Tom could feel her prying and it angered him, especially so because of the fact that she could indeed be right.
"My mother died." He said as if it settled the matter. "If she had magic…she could have saved herself."
"Not even wizards live forever."