Year 2, Chapter 2:

"Hello hello," said Tom, greeting Nicole with raw enthusiasm. It was good to be back at Hogwarts, though admittedly had it not have been for the "No magic outside of Hogwarts" rule he would have enjoyed his summer much more.

"Hey." She said quietly looking away. He was quite disappointed; he had grown accustomed to her strong willed personality.

"Something the matter?" he questioned, sitting down on the seat across from him playing with a snitch.

"No, where'd you get the snitch?" she asked as if she was recomposing herself.

"Nicked it. From the Hufflepuff seeker, George. Can you believe people actually waste their time with this?" he asked laughing.

"Actually I was thinking of trying out for beater, I'm a fair flyer you know."

"Well don't. It's stupid." He said brushing her off.

"Uhuh, so why aren't you with your little posse?" she asked suddenly, quick to change the subject.

"They can live without me, and yours?"

"I don't know, they all seem so…"

"Pointless?" He finished.

"Not exactly," she said. She had gone back to her somber mood. She cuddled her sweater like a blanket; it was several times too big.

"Why are you wearing a sweater? It's seventy some degrees outside." he asked attempting to take it off.

She fought him but he was persistent. "I'm just cold alright?" she answered finally. He glared; a glare that even she was not immune to. "Fine, you really want to see?" he nodded.

She took off her sweater to reveal multiple bruises along her arms. "I can't use magic outside of Hogwarts, I have to wait till we get there to get rid of them," she said quietly.

"Who did this to you?" Examining a rather large bruise located on her elbow. Nicole looked away again.

"It's just my dad; sometimes he loses his temper…its nothing really." She looked up at him tears filled her eyes. But her tears did not upset him; it was something else that angered him about the situation. Someone had desecrated something he thought of as his, and that was just completely unacceptable.

He couldn't stand to think of this at the moment. "So, are you really going to try out for Quidditch?" he asked, a false smile returning to his face.

"Nah, I get more satisfaction beating people, not bludgers." She said sarcastically.

"I have that problem as well." Tom replied with a touch of seriousness.

They arrived at the castle and took place at their seats. They didn't talk much after that, or resume their usually meetings in the kitchens. It seemed they would never speak to one another again.

In the mean time, aside from his studies he consumed himself with the origins of his lineage. He couldn't find a record of his father anywhere; it was as though he never existed.

"Hey Riddle!" screamed a girl with dark blonde hair.

"What? I'm busy." He yelled turning around with a furious gleam in his eye that caused the girl to drop the note and run towards the Great Hall.

Tom picked it up, it read:

Dear Tom Riddle,

I prize myself in my ability to pick out students with potential, and you are one of those students. Your grades are excellent and you are a very sharp young lad. I wish for you to join my meeting in the potions room at noon tomorrow.

Yours Truly,

Slughorn

"Bumbling idiot," he said to himself. Professor Slughorn was his Head of House, whom Tom had never thought very much of, one way or the other. Still, it was nice to be noted for his work.

He had gotten to the Potions lab late that day to find perhaps a dozen other students seated, including Nicole. "Sorry I'm late, I was in the library."

"That's fine me boy, come sit." He gestured to a chair. This is George Hughes, Daniel Rosier, Nicole Sullivan; she's in your year…." Tom had lost his will to pay attention; he looked at Nicole for the first time in a good while.

He liked her, more than that he liked her company. It was a curious feeling. He had never truly liked anyone before. He tolerated the company of a great many people yes, but never before could he say he enjoyed them. She was so very intriguing to him.

The meeting was long and blurred and when it was over Tom was drained and started to head off to the Slytherin common room.

"Tom, wait." He turned around to find Nicole standing just a few feet away. "Can I talk to you for a while?"

"What about?" he asked, but no sooner had he done so had he received a hug that squeezed his insides. . No one had ever hugged him before, at least not that he could remember. The mere thought of being hugged was appalling, at least in theory. He had not cringed when she embraced him, nor returned the favor. He merely stood there awkwardly, utterly confused. "What was that for?" he asked curiously, soon after being released from her grip

"I don't know," she said pulling back. "Find out about your dad yet?"

"No, not yet anyway," he answered as if he was nearly there.

Nicole looked as though she was about to say something, then paused and looked down. After a moment she looked back up at him with a devilish smile. "Have you checked the restricted section yet?"