Disclaimer: The usual, I don't own any of the characters or anything to do with Harry Potter. All credit goes to J.K Rowling. Anyone you don't recognise is owned by me.

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Fairy Forsaken – my 60th reviewer, as she informed me in her review :)

CHAPTER EIGHT

The first term at Hogwarts flew by. Tom spent a great deal of time making up for how he had treated Isolde the first week of term. He knew that she had forgiven him but she hadn't forgotten. Although they had no classes together since Slytherin was grouped with Gryffindor and Ravenclaws with Hufflepuff, the pair was still able to spend a large amount of time together.

Isolde was also dividing her time between her friends in Slytherin and her friends in Ravenclaw as well as Minerva. Acacia and Alice had taken to joining Isolde and the Slytherin girls, and they quickly formed their own group. Minerva had joined them a couple of time but none of Isolde's friends particularly liked the Gryffindor who had very quickly earned a reputation as a know-it-all. None the less, Isolde still made time for her first Hogwarts friend.

The last day of term arrived and Isolde bid her new friends goodbye as they left to catch the Hogwarts Express back to London for the Christmas holidays. She and Tom were spending Christmas at Hogwarts. When they found out they had to option to stay at school they had jumped at it, not wanting to spend another miserable Christmas at the orphanage. After waving her friends off, she headed to the library intent on finding her best friend.

((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))

Intelligence and talent fitting for Ravenclaw...hmmm...but you are also cunning...very cunning, you would do well in Slytherin. There is also a thirst...a thirst to prove yourself. You would fit well in either house. However your blood calls to Slytherin...

"Tom!" Tom was jolted out of his reminiscences. He looked up to see Isolde standing beside him, a small smile of amusement on her face.

He couldn't help but return the smile, as she sat down opposite him. "Where were you? It was like you were a hundred miles away. I called your name three times." She said.

Tom shrugged. "Sorry. I was just thinking." He said, glancing back at the book in front of him.

Isolde frowned slightly, wondering what her friend had been thinking about so intently. Before she could ask, he looked back at her. "I was thinking about what the Sorting Hat said to me at the Sorting Feast." He informed her.

Isolde's brow furrowed. "What did it say?"

He repeated what the hat had said to him and for a moment he was distracted as she started nibbling on her lower lip. "Your blood calls to Slytherin." She repeated. "What do you think it means?"

Tom shrugged. "Maybe my father was in Slytherin." He said.

Isolde nodded slowly. "Maybe." She agreed.

"I'm going to start trying to find my father's family." He said. "One of the books in here should have something about where I came from." Tom gestured to the large stacks of books surrounding them.

Isolde followed his gaze. "Maybe." She repeated, not wanting to encourage Tom too much in case he was disappointed in what he did or didn't find. "Where do we start?"

Tom smiled at her, knowing he could count on Isolde when he needed her and he knew researching his family was something he would need her help with. "Let's wait until after Christmas. I've waited 12 years to find out about my father. A few more days won't hurt."

Isolde simply nodded.

(((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))

Their first Christmas at Hogwarts was without a doubt the best Christmas Tom and Isolde had ever had. Eight other students had stayed and the ten of them plus the teachers had Christmas lunch together with every possible bit of Christmas food imaginable.

Since the only Slytherin left was a 7th year who spent most of the holidays with his Ravenclaw girlfriend, Merlin knows where, Tom invited Isolde into the Slytherin common room where they sat by the fire sipping cocoa, reading and just enjoying the time they had alone together.

Come Boxing Day straight after breakfast, they found themselves back in the library, surrounded by any book they could find on Genealogy, past and present students of Hogwarts and families in the wizarding world. They spent hours in the library pouring over books, only pausing to eat, sleep and use to restroom.

New Years Eve and Tom's 12th Birthday arrived rather quickly and the search was slowly losing momentum as Tom slowly came to realise that his father might not be a wizard like he had originally thought.

Isolde patted his arm and attempted to cheer him up. "Maybe, your mother was the magical one." She said trying to stay position.

"Yeah." Tom said sullenly.

"We can keep looking for your father." Isolde said quickly. "But maybe when we go back to the orphanage this summer, you could ask Mrs Cole what she knows about your mother."

Tom just nodded, before grabbing Past and Present Prefects of Hogwarts and opening it again for the third time in five days.

(((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))

A/N: Yes, I know this was a short chapter but I didn't feel the need to lengthen it because really, how much time could they spent searching for a man who isn't a wizard. Hopefully things will start to pick up and I will be more inspired to update much more quickly.

Any possibility we can reach 70 reviews?

Also, when I write I like picturing my characters, using actors and actress. Anyone got any ideas who they think would resemble a teen Isolde? Let me know in your reviews.

k8ew8e – Glad you like the story. Thanks for the review.

DarkCarolineRiddle – Ask and ye shall receive. Thanks for reviewing.

whenthesnowmelts- Thanks for the review. I hope you enjoy the future chapters.

xxstarlightxxdreamerxx – No, you didn't sound rude in your last comment. Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoyed this update.

wholegrainmustard – Thanks. Yes, I intend on continuing when they are older and out of Hogwarts. Not sure how far I'll go...maybe late 20's?

TogsTwilightFans – Yeah, I'm glad Tom got his act together as well, with a little help from Lucretia and Octavia.

Superdani – I live for your reviews girl. I love Isolde's new friends as well. They will feature more as the story progresses. And don't worry, Isolde won't die...by Tom's hands...

diggydawg – I love the bond the Tom and Isolde share as well. I hope I'm conveying just how strong it is (there is a bit of a clue just how strong in the last chapter). Glad to hear I'm going at the right pace.

Fairy Forsaken – Ah...my 60th reviewer. Here's your update. Thanks for the review.