AN. Heey sorry its been a while. I would have updated sooner but apparently jack daniels and keyboards arent friends. There will probably be quite a few mistakes since this chapter was abit rushed; my brothers giving me a bloody time limit on how long i can chore his laptop for *rolls eyes* honestly ye'd think i was gonna break it or something.
Ill try an update more often.
Reviews and all that would be loveley loves :D constructive critisism too. Thankya muchly. -SKRx
It was the night before she left for Hogwarts again, her birthday. She was currently lying in bed trying to stifle her excitement at leaving the orphanage and going home so she could get some sleep. Her door was open and she could feel Tom watching her from across the hall, she had thought about going over and telling him to shove his rule up his arse, that she would close her door if she damn well pleased but she didn't want to risk getting in trouble from Matron for being in yet another fight with Tom. Matron had threatened to not let her leave if she was in another fight, not that it would make a difference to her but she didn't see the point in getting an unnecessary lecture. She could finally feel herself starting to calm down as she let her thought drift back over the last couple of months since Tom came back.
---
After that first conversation Tom did not speak to her, he did however sit with her at every meal, during free time and even whilst doing their chores. He would also stare at her when he thought she was distracted. She wasn't, she could feel his eyes on her and it took all her concentration not to let the anxiety show on her pretty face. It had been a fortnight since this routine began that she finally snapped,
"Seriously Riddle, would you stop staring at me. It's damn annoying." immaturely kicking her bucket of water over, she really had to control her temper she thought idly, it wouldn't do to be acting like a petulant child all the time. When she had turned around to look at him, there was an arrogant smirk plastered across his handsome features. She decided then and there she hated that smirk 'stupid pretty boy' she had grumbled inwardly.
"I don't know what you're talking about Aila," he said arranging his face into a mask of sincerity, "I mean what possible reason would I have for looking at some annoying midget, awfully vain of you to think I was staring you, don't you think?" She didn't like how he had managed to insult her twice in one sentence while giving off an air of confusion. If she had been anyone else she might have believed him but she wasn't. She saw the cold and calculating, greedy gleam that went through his eyes, he felt her magic spike protectively to the perceived threat in response, before his face was arranged into a mask of innocence.
She knew she shouldn't have done it. That it would end badly, most likely for her. But she did it anyway, she hit him, hard. As soon as her hand collided with his face she knew she had gone too far. She felt fear course through her and it took everything she had not to let it show on her face, instead pushing remorse, shock and guilt onto her small pixie like features. She knew it would do no good trying to talk herself out of it because honestly what could she say? 'Hey, oh sorry I have a nervous tick, you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.' His eyes had turned cold and she could feel herself subconsciously backing away, right into the wall.
He grinned at her predicament as he stalked up to her putting and arm on either side of her head caging her in. Not a nice grin either, more an 'I'm a madman who just conquered the world' kind of grin. He was so close that she could feel his breath on her neck as he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Don't ever try that again." She could feel his body heat and was surprised; she had stupidly thought he would be cold, just like his personality. Her body betrayed her and trembled in fear, and not that she would ever admit it but desire, she had been a teenager after all, as one of his hands stroked her hair before wrapping the long locks around his hand and pulling it back harshly so she was staring at his face, "Got it, little one." He all but hissed at her. He waited until she gave a shaky nod before he sharply tugged once more before stalking from the room, likely to calm down.
It had taken her three hours to get her emotions back under control and stop the shaking. It had then taken another three hours before she decided she was not going to be bullied and intimidated like all the other children. She was her own person and she'd be damned if she let Tom Riddle tell her what to do. It had been that thought that had started what would be the first of many rather violent fights between the two.
---
It was during one of the rather mild fights that little Amy Benson, she really should stop referring to everyone as little, she was shorter than most of them, came into the run down library and told them someone was here to see Aila in Matrons office. Confusion easily replacing all previous emotions she left the room to go see who was there never once looking back at Tom. She was deep in thought therefore she never heard his footsteps following hers. It wasn't until she had entered the office and heard a familiar voice greeting Tom that she realised she had just been stalked and for the first time since she was thirteen in her past life, not even realised. Putting it to the back of her mind to think about later, she looked up to see twinkling blue eyes, a rather long; but shorter than she had seen last time round, auburn beard. She recognised Albus Dumbledore immediately. She wasn't sure whether to be happy to see him alive and well or angry at the manipulative old bastard that caused her Harry to have such a shitty childhood.
She settled on polite disinterest and took the remaining seat while Tom stood almost protectively behind her seat, she found that rather strange. Putting on her best 'I'm an innocent naive little girl' voice, she asked,
"Amy said you wanted to see me ma'am. Am I in trouble?" she knew why she was here but thought if she was going to play the part she might as well be thorough. She widened her eyes and bit her lip. It was Dumbledore who answered,
"Not at all my dear, actually I'm here to offer you a place at my school, the same school that young Tom here also attends." The next hour was spent being told everything she already knew about going to Hogwarts. 'Did they honestly just assume that because she stayed in an orphanage she didn't know anything about her family?'She thought in slight annoyance. It was arranged that Tom would take her to Diagon Alley and apparently her father had a vault at Gringotts that got willed to her after his death that would pay for her things.
---
The next few weeks had been rather uneventful apart from their fights so she was ecstatic when Tom announced they would be going to Diagon Alley on the 15th of august. In her happiness she did not notice how her eyes sparkled, her cheeks had a rosy flush or how she just seemed to glow. The others did though. For the first time in a long time she looked like any other ten year old girl, albeit a very beautiful one. She did not know it but Tom thought in that moment he wanted to keep her that happy all the time but of course he dismissed it, he rather liked it when she was angry and released her power, it was strong and seductive, he had decided during one of her more violent surges that she was his, whether she liked it or not. He wouldn't let her know until she was older though, he didn't want to scare her too soon.
---
Aila awoke rather suddenly on the 15th. The sun was shining on her face and a soft smile made its way onto her face, she loved the sun. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she just knew Tom watching her was the cause or her unwanted awakening. Groaning she sat up stretching and shot Tom an icy glare. He just smirked and motioned to a set of clothes at the foot of her bed, a silent command to 'hurry the fuck up and get dressed' before walking out the room shutting the door behind him. Involuntary her magic spiked in accord with her anger, he had no right going through her stuff. She took a few calming breaths before getting dressed in said outfit before going down to breakfast and leaving.
The alley she had decided was better in this time than the future; clearly a lot of these shops would be shut down at some point. Madam Malkins was still there and she was shocked to see it was the same Miss Malkin from her time, albeit younger. It was while she was being measured that she had officially been declared a tiny 4"5 in height. Tom had not stopped sending taunting smirks her way since, or calling her midget or little one for that matter. Florean's ice cream shop had yet to be built much to her dismay. At the moment she was standing in Ollivanders with that pesky measuring tape sizing her up. The old man seemed to have a maniacal gleam in his eye muttering about 'most difficult customer yet' and 'interesting one she is'. He rounded the corner from where he had been collecting boxes, snapped his fingers and the tape measure whizzed into his waiting hand,
"Alright, here we go try this, oak, 10 inches, with a hair from the mane of a baby unicorn." She waved it and the windows violently exploded, needless to say Ollivander couldn't have snatched that one back fast enough muttering 'looks can be deceiving ... looked ... not so innocent then.'They went through another eight before she recognised her old wand, vine wood with dragon heartstring. Merlin she missed that wand. Thinking she would get the same wand she was shocked when it reacted just as violently as the baby unicorn hair. A feeling of dread swept through her as she saw the next wand. She would recognise that wand anywhere, it was Harry's. Holly and phoenix feather, brother wand to Toms.
The look on the old man's face as he handed it over was of deep excitement and interest. Her fingers had barely brushed the handle when a beautiful fountain of green and blue sparkles shot from the end. In the back of her mind she registered that Ollivander was telling Tom that their wands shared cores making them brother wands but all she could think was 'this is Harry's wand'. Tom lead her out the shop and along to a little cafe where he told her to 'sit still and for the love of Merlin do not wander off, I'll be back in half an hour at most'. That snapped her out of her trance rather well, she nodded outwardly while inwardly thinking about how best to go about tailing him. She gave him a 3 minute head start before transfiguring her green dress into a black robe with a hood and shrinking her bags. She followed behind slowly keeping within the crowds but carefully keeping an eye on him. He turned left into Knockturn Alley.
He didn't go far. He stopped at a seedy looking pub, drew his hood tightly around his face and walked in. She followed suit but not before disguising her voice. She walked up to the bar and ordered a firewhiskey, the barman looked suspicious at her height, or lack thereof but decided she was probably just a goblin or something gave her the drink. She then positioned herself so she was in hearing distance of Tom. Taking a sip of her drink the burn in her throat greeted her like an old friend. The last time she had drank the stuff was after a particularly bad nightmare with Charlie. A flash of silver blonde hair peeking out of dark green robes caught her attention, Malfoy blonde to be precise. The person walked over to where Tom was sitting greeting him before sitting down. He went right to business not bothering with a silencing charm. 'Stupid boy'. Her interest was instantly captured by his forst sentence.
"I have all the information on the MacLean girl I could get. You where right about her father dying before she was born and her being related to Cygnus. They share a great great great however many grandfather. One of the sons moved to France starting the French branch, the Noir's. From what Cygnus' mother said her grandparents dropped her off at some orphanage in London, here's where it get's interesting. It would seem that she –"
"Stop. Maybe we should cast a silencing charm, our conversation may not be private anymore." Was the last she heard before the area around them went quiet. 'Busted' she thought sourly, 'Why the hell is he looking into my background.' She finished of the last of her drink in one large gulp before looking back at the area Tom was seated, he was gazing suspiciously back at her so she took that as her cue to leave. She quickly made her way back to the cafe he had left her at previously and ordered a sandwich. Ten minutes later she had finished her food and had completely zoned out. This is why she jumped violently at Tom's question,
"Have you been here this whole time Midget?" Oh Merlin, her heart felt like it would burst out her chest any second, "Doesn't matter. Come on let's go, its nearly dinner and you don't want another hour added onto your 5hours of punishment do you?"
---
The last two weeks had past in a blur of fights, floor scrubbing and impatience. Tom had steadily become possessive of her around other people which she found did not make a lick of sense. She had also come to the conclusion that she really had to stop fighting with him otherwise she'd never get him to change. With that resolve firmly in mind she finally drifted off.
---
Aila woke late the next morning; anticipation at finally going home flooded her as soon as she became conscious. She had packed all her stuff yesterday as per Tom's instructions. 'I'm not missing the train because you can't be bothered packing your damn trunk' she mimicked in her head. Rushing to the bathroom she showered and dressed picked up her trunk and went to the dining room in record speed. Tom was of course already there with a scowl on his face, glancing at his watch every few minutes. Taking a leaf from his book she looked at her watch to see that it was half nine, the train left at eleven. He rushed her through her breakfast before all but dragging her out into scorching streets of London.
After arriving at the station Tom had sat her in a compartment with their trunks and told her not to move, 'Pfft. What does he think I am a fucking dog' she thought angrily. He was treating her like a stupid little girl. Three hours later she was sitting in the same spot with two other little boys across from her, they had tried to engage her in conversation but realised after her blunt one word responses she was not going to speak to them.
The train was nearing Hogsmeade and she had already changed into her new uniform when Tom and his minions eventually turned up. He kicked the two boys out the compartment before turning to her and telling her she would go in the boats with the other firsties and about the houses, he basically ordered her to be in Slytherin. She didn't know why he cared what house she would be in, she thought he'd be rather glad to get rid of her but wisely kept her mouth shut until the next time they were alone.
The next time they were alone just happened to be on the platform when he grabbed her arm and dragged her to the side,
"Don't tell anyone you live at the orphanage, if they are persistent tell them you live with me, no more no less, got it? They won't question anymore after that. Remember you're to be in Slytherin little one." He told her in a cold voice. Again she could not figure out his motives. She agreed however, if she was to change him she would have to get close and that meant no more fighting. 'Merlin this was going to be a long few years.' Tom grabbed her arm again and lead dropped her in a boat with 3 other boys whom he sent an icy glare that sent chills up her spine at. They looked terrified but nodded. 'Hmm, must be his new baby death eaters' she thought.
The boats jerked to a start and made their way across the lake. Rounding the corner the imposing silhouette of the castle loomed over them and for the first time since her fourth year felt complete calmness wash over her.