A/N: Not sure if any of you are enjoying this, but I did get at least one review who chose to be vindictive.

Guest: Hello to you too! *Waves* I hope you are enjoying this Fanfiction thus far, though I would discourage you from using profanity as I have a profanity filter up and my account does not accept anonymous reviews. I only just got to see your review, and it was a pleasure to read. Really.

It it was meant to make me feel bad, then I'm afraid it had the opposite effect. I did give you the choice to give praise, constructive criticism or just flame me, but I am actually glad that you chose to review.

The fact that you had gone through all of that trouble just for that one, short review tells me how much you truly care for the quality of my work. I am flattered that you wasted your time reviewing me when you could have instead chosen to click that back button, though it seems like it has a Muggle repelling charm on it (what a shame) so of course you wouldn't be able to go back.

If you'd like to correspond, then please do log in and refrain from using such profanity, as it was not me who deleted it (I'd actually be glad to have at least a little feedback) but actually Fanfiction itself that had.

Thank you, and I congratulate you if you managed to read thus far.

Ah, as I promised, I said that Tom Riddle would give hugs to anyone who reviews, and since I count yours as one although it has been deleted, Tom will give you one anyway, just out of pity.

Again, if you choose to respond, then do it via the login button, just ask me to 'Finite' it and I'll remove the Muggle repelling charm on it for you :)

Love you,

~ Annika

To those of you who are still reading this, you all rock! Thank you to:

- Cytryne

- Nacanaca

- aspygirlredo

For Favouriting- you all get a box of Chocolate Frogs and a hug from Tom Riddle!

And:

- Cytryne

- Nacanaca

- aspygirlredo

- pinkmonkey36

Tom Riddle has spared you all and has given you an invitation to his Manor for a conversation about your first day at Hogwarts over a cup of warm pumpkin juice :) If you'd like a (willing) hug from him, then just review :)

I awoke to the sunlight hitting my face, my memories pleasantly hazy and my body recharged and ready for the next day. I turned over and saw Tom, his face unmarred of any imperfections. He looked angelic; innocent of the horrors that the world was so full of.

The thing that the world didn't know was that Tom was the source of all of that suffering.

With that thought, the memories of the previous night hit me like a tsunami, my mind slightly dizzy by all of the implications that this... Voldemort had unknowingly brought upon revealing himself to Tom and I. I spared my twin brother another searching look and noticed traces of fatigue before choosing not to wake him up. I climbed down the bunk and looked through our schedule before nodding to myself and preparing our bags. We had the same lessons throughout the entire timetable, so there were no worries about getting anything confused. First was Transfiguration. Then we had Potions, Defence against the Dark Arts and Charms. We had Flying in the evening. I frowned, staring at the final subject. Why would we need to learn how to fly? Do we have wings that I was unaware of? I snorted. Probably not. But there must be a reason why I never see hovering witches and wizards all over Britain. Perhaps we used some sort of contraption that enabled us to fly? Why would we need to know how to fly anyway? I shook my head as I organised our bags for the school day, contemplating how our first day at school would go. I sincerely hoped it would do well. I was all too familiar with being acquainted with the whip at school and Tom had not been pleased at best though he always went through punishments with me. Most of the time it was due to magic.

Then again, we weren't exactly the best behaved of the children at the Orphanage. Words that were often used to describe Tom and I were often something along the lines of 'Demonic' or 'the Devil's Spawn'. I shuddered as I recalled the exorcism that they had tried on us. When it failed, the priest ordered the matron to put us through a week of starvation, alienation from the other orphans and neglected giving us water. But despite all of that, the worst thing was watching Tom deteriorate right in front of me. We both knew who was the more powerful of us, and it wasn't me. But because of that, it meant that Tom needed more food, water and energy in order to tame his magic. We had each other through out that week of hell, but it wasn't enough. He was dying right in front of me, and I couldn't do anything to stop it unless the week passed by. I was lost to the outside world as I remembered the sheer hopelessness I felt as I watched Tom die, convinced that I was going to be a solitary orphan- a twin ripped away from her brother. The pain was agonising. I withstood the week, but Tom couldn't. I remembered watching him writhe in pain- such terrible pain- on the floor. His body was so thin, so sickly... The comforting magic and aura of safety, familiarity and love I usually felt radiating off him had diminished, barely there but flickering within him like the faint afterglow of fire on wood. The embers were fanned as he became worse and worse, his hair matted and greasy- something which I thought never happened to Tom since he always looked pristine- and his green eyes dulled, ringed by bloodshot eyes. The intense hunger that he had felt throughout the week intensified, and he often dreamed of having feasts. I knew I looked equally as bad. I had caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and smashed it into pieces, always averting my gaze from the window or any other sources of reflection. I knew I was narcissistic, but my vanity was a flaw that I had failed at getting rid of. I obsessed in looking at myself in the mirror, always pinning my hair this way and that, wondering if my eyes would look prettier if I batted my lashes or fluttered them. I admit I am not perfect, though I pretend to be.

And I know that the truth will be discovered someday.

A surge of guilt flooded throughout me as I recounted the screams that flooded the room.

Those screams all came from my elder brother's throat and I couldn't do anything about it.

I was shaken out of my musings when I felt a rigorous shaking on my left shoulder, followed by a hazy call of my name when my brain allowed me to fight out of the grasp that the flashback had trapped me in. I blinked twice; my eyelids heavier than lead, before my eyes peeled open and were rewarded with the sight of Tom staring at me, green optics filled with worry and love.

Whoever said that green eyes mean jealousy and hatred was obviously wrong.

Almost immediately, he knew what I had recounted once he saw the pained look in my eyes.

"It's gone, now, Katherine." His eyes were hard and flint-like as he glowered at me. I swallowed, knowing that he had been reminded of what he had gone through and blamed me for causing him to remember. The silent vow that we had made was broken, its only condition- never to remind the other sibling of what had happened in the orphanage- blatantly torn down. He stood up and turned before leaving the room to go to the adjoining common room just outside the room. I knew that he was angry at me for forcing him to recount it, and I count not fault him for leaving the room in cold silence, but I still felt a small sting within me. I smothered it with the best masks that I could before I bowed my head and closed my eyes, recounting those terrible screams that gave me nightmares for years.

•••

Breakfast at the Great Hall was awkward, to say the least. Tom was still as silent as ever next to me, but the other Slytherins looked upon us with disdain, as though we were worse than the dirt under their filthy shoes. I wrinkled my nose at those thoughts before finishing off my last bite of salad and standing up to leave in order to go to the library. Tom smoothly grabbed my arm and pulled me down. I made no comment and sat down next to him, watching him as he finished off his pancakes. I understood Tom's reason why he wanted me right next to him- our 'house mates' looked like they wanted to murder us on the spot, the only thing preventing them from doing so was the fact that they were in such a public space. I spared a glance at Tom, silently asking why their disdainful attitude had been earned, but he had already finished and was looking at the Slytherins instead, his eyes narrowed.

This should be interesting.

"Is there a reason why you're all staring at me or am I more beautiful than the last time I looked in the mirror?" He asked, his voice sarcastic. Our housemates looked as though they had swallowed a sour lemon whilst I fought to contain my smirk and instead used the emotionless mask that I had built through the years. Tom gave no sign that he had recognised my attempt at covering my amusement.

So far, so good.

"Don't delude yourself with your vanities, Riddle." A blonde boy- Abraxus Malfoy, my mind supplied as I remembered his sorting- sneered, staring at Riddle as though he were a common pest. I snarled, my dam broken.

"If anyone was vain, Malfoy, it would be me. I'd rather you insulted me rather than my brother because he is worth more than your pathetic hide. I bet that he's more important than all of you so called 'Purebloods' and Slytherins put together," I snarled. "Just you wait until class. We may not be Purelood, but Tom will best you all and one day, you will all come simpering back to kiss his feet."

"Then we shall wait until then." Malfoy finally said after a long moment of levelling me up. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in.

I had admitted one of my faults to a housemate.

What if it was used against me?

I spared a glance at Tom. He was staring intensely at me- as though he had never seen me before- or perhaps like I was a particularly valuable gem in a Jewellery shop. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, my head bowed and staring at my intertwined fingers clasped loosely on my lap, the previous night coming back to me as I remembered his blazing glare.

No! Forget about that! Focus on something else...

Tom grabbed my hand. I finally looked up. He beckoned me closer. I began to feel a little anxious. The last time Tom had done this was when we were at the beach, just after Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop- of who were the only other siblings in the orphanage despite being only step siblings- had made fun out of me. I knew that Tom had done something or another to them because they were mad enough to be carted off to Bedlam, but I was secretly both disgusted and touched. Those two conflicting emotions had warred within me for ages onward whenever I remembered. I was touched because Tom had cared so fiercely about me, but I was also disgusted because of the lack of response I had given after Tom had ignored the restrictions I had set.

No harming other orphans...

Only give them what they deserve...

"I'll talk to you in the library." He whispered once I had finally leaned close enough for him to transfer his message. I pulled away and nodded, momentarily distracted by our jovial professor who had conveniently decided to stop by Tom and I.

"Professor Slughorn." Tom and I greeted our Head of House at the same time. The Slytherins looked a little unnerved at our simultaneous greeting to the professor, but the stupid man hadn't noticed the terse atmosphere.

"Ah, my best Potions Students. Polite as ever, Tom, Katherine." He nodded and gave a smile to Tom that made his already wide face look even more unappealing. His straw-like hair clung unattractively to his round face, his rotund figure decked out in silks and furs. Merlin knew the man was disgusting. He took a deep breath- one that almost popped the buttons off his waistcoat- and gave me a smile that looked more like a grimace.

Sexist idiot.

Tom's smile looked forced, fake and saccharine.

"Thank you Professor, though I must admit that Katherine was the one with the most ability. She is the best at Potions, after all." He stated, his voice full of false sweetness. The Professor looked momentarily disorientated, blinking at Tom slowly, as though he had never seen him before. His sweaty, large hand slowly ascended to his balding, greasy head of hair before it scratched at the patch.

"Of course, my dear boy. Katherine is also competent." Tom looked like he wanted to snarl at the teacher, but the Professor only gave him a knowing smile. "After all, it is the boys who have it all, eh, Tom?" My brother's eye twitched, but he maintained his polite facial expression.

"Of course, sir." Tom abruptly got up, pulling me up in chain reaction, ignoring the rest of his pancakes before we walked out of the Great hall, my hand in his.

"I never knew you were a feminist, Tom." I said, my eyebrow raised as we journeyed along the corridors.

"I'm not," He answered, his voice amused. "I only ever stood up for you because you are the only person that means something to me. Family stays together, correct?" He said, though his last sentence made his voice tremble. Family is a sore topic for us, knowing that our mother died giving birth to us and the fact that our father had abandoned us without a backward glance at our pregnant mother. I gave him a sad smile.

"Correct." I answered, feeling as though a stone had been dropped down the pit of my stomach. Seeing Tom like this was rare. I hated seeing him in sadness; it felt almost as though I could also feel it. I squeezed his hand before he shook himself out of the reverie his mind had him trapped in. He gave me an indulgent smile and opened the library double doors- had we really been that quick?- before entering the dusty room of ancient tomes.

•••

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore hated us.

Period.

He ignored us as we persistently put our hands up- though it may have something to do with his first impression of Tom- and he always decked points from us whenever we did the slightest of things.

"Can anyone explain to me the most basic spell used to levitate objects?" Tom and I lifted our hands up. Dumbledore's eyes skirted across our hands, though we made no attempt to wave it around like a lunatic. If he chooses to ignore us, then so be it. We shall do no more- just remain in the classroom with our hands up. "Anyone? No? Well, the spell incantation is called 'Wingardium Leviosa'. The wand movement is a swish and a flick. Repeat after me: Wingardium Leviosa!"

"Wingardium Leviosa!" The class repeated dutifully. Tom and I, on the other hand, did not even put much effort into it.

"Mr and Miss Riddle, ten points each for your lack of enthusiasm." Dumbledore said bluntly, his periwinkle eyes dimming and holding dislike.

"We did nothing to warrant your pitiful justification for your hatred toward us, Professor." Dumbledore's title was said with such contempt from Tom that the Transfigurations teacher's permanently twinkling eyes narrowed.

"Ten more points from you, Mister Riddle, for your lack of respect to your teacher." Dumbledore countered. The Slytherins were starting to glare at Tom. He did nothing to acknowledge their hatred, but held his tongue anyway.

Unfortunately, I wasn't about to let Dumbledore have the last word or allow him to humiliate my brother without my intervention.

"I'd suggest that you discourage your favouritism from blinding your opinion of us, Professor Dumbledore," I hissed. "Tom is an excellent student- and though we haven't made the best of first impressions- I'd rather you judge my brother based on his knowledge and intelligence rather than his house."

"Fifty points from you, Miss Riddle, for your lack of respect to authority."

"You cannot deduct anymore points from us, Professor. We already reached zero by the time you deducted ten points from Tom." I said, a smirk on my face. Dumbledore pursed his lips and turned away from us, choosing to ignore us instead. Tom exchanged a glance with me, a small thanks in his eyes. I nodded to acknowledge it.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Both Orion Black and Timothy Littlewood- a Muggleborn- hissed at us, though for differing reasons.

"You've already lost all of the points that Slytherin worked so hard to achieve!" Orion continued, a sneer on his face. Timothy had a grotesque look on his face-one that resembled a lion seeing its prey- like the Griffindor he was.

"For your information, Black, I was the one who got Slytherin all these points in the first place. You can not condemn me for losing the points that I myself had gained. If you wish to release your anger upon me, then do it some other time when I am not in the mood to think of creative ways to kill you without magic." Orion opened his mouth to intervene, but Tom had already turned to me. "Say, Katherine, how does sawing his tongue off with the axe that Mrs Cole makes us use when gathering firewood sound?" Tom asked, a malicious smile on his face. I smirked, a sugar sweet tone to my voice.

"Perfect, brother dearest. Shall we invite Littlewood, too? It's only courtesy, after all." I answered, the look on my face filled with mock-innocence. Tom gave me a light smile, as though we were discussing the weather. I felt my lips turn up into a genuine smile, my eyes on his. He gripped my hand from under the table before turning to the boys with a sneer on his face.

The two of them had turned a pale white. Luckily for Black, he had gotten the message- we weren't someone to be trifled with. Unfortunately for Littlewood, he had recovered almost immediately.

"You're just Slytherin scum. You think you're so above us Griffindors, but you're not. I'll teach you not to insult Dumbledore." He hissed, his voice eerily like Parceltongue. We were nonplussed, however, only raising an eyebrow at his fuming expression. Once he saw that, he snapped. He slammed the textbook open to a different page, quickly reading the text before whipping his wand out and flicking his wrist. "Adflictio maledictionem!"He spat.

Now, Tom and I could have deflected it in a heartbeat, but Dumbledore was watching this whole ordeal intently. We weren't idiots- he could go to the headmaster and expel us if we used so much as a 'protego'. We could duck, but it would hit Abraxus Malfoy and we'd be condemned by the Malfoy's father for allowing his heir to get hurt. We had to tread carefully around Dumbledore- the only thing we could do was gain the headmaster's favour and ensure that he trusted us just as much as- if not, more than- Dumbledore. But for now, all we had to do was hope that the spell wouldn't harm us. Tom pulled me into his arms, his arms encircling me before he placed his chin on my head.

"What's the spell, Tom?" I whispered, fear in my voice. I regretted withholding from reading ahead in the textbook. Looks like stupidity would always be my downfall. Tom frowned.

"It's a borderline dark curse. It's brings pain and torment to whoever is hit by it-"That was all I needed to hear. I looked up, fear in my eyes before a resolution took over, and pain at the remembrance of my brother's suffering at the orphanage controlling my body. Tom recognised the look immediately, but I pushed him away and onto the floor before turning around to face the curse just as it hit. "NO!" He screamed.

I closed my eyes to the wracking pain before collapsing to my knees, dully feeling the sensation of someone holding my arm in a vice grip.

Pain, pain, pain- red hot pain.

I heard a scream somewhere in the room- or was it me?- but I couldn't bring myself to wonder on it.

More screams- but this time there was someone else screaming too, chanting a name.

"Kat! Oh God, please, if you're up there-"

More words- over and over. Dulling and getting more distant with every second that went by as I desperately tried to latch onto them- to give myself a sense of reality.

Just stop! Please! I- I can't- I can't-

Agony, fire and ice- and at last, darkness.

A/N: Again, what was your opinion? Would you like to give praise, constructive criticism or a flame? Though if you chose to be vindictive, then please refrain from using profanity and log in.

Sneak Peak:

" Sunlight that filtered through the Black Lake lit the walls with an eerie, pulsating aqua green light hit Tom's face, making him look like some sort of water-God.

Poseidon, My mind supplied, as I recounted the countless mythology books Tom had taught me how to read from. Or Neptune."

"Swear it, Tom. Swear that you'll put yourself before me in any and all situations- because I'll be damned if you die," Here my voice broke, "just to save me."

" Every single time I thought of the dreaded orphanage, the rumours that had plagued Europe kept circulating throughout my head.

There's going to be a Second World War...

A new leader is rising...

His name is Hitler..."

End Sneak Peak:

Ooh, a little hint as to what Tom and Tia would be going through...

I hope you've enjoyed, and don't be scared of that response to 'Guest', I'm not like that.

Tom is still holding out for that hug... Better catch it- it's not everyday a Dark Lord willingly offers to hug you- much less a younger, attractive one ;) Review if you want it!

Love you all,

~Annika