Rival Game
Chapter 2: Students
A/N: Hey everyone! AnimeAvarice here (in a much better mood, might I add.) OK, so my first chapter didn't exactly explode out of the starting gate. It kinda crawled feebly, to be perfectly honest. So, I did enjoy writing the last chapter and I'm not really gonna change my style all that much, so sowwyz. But I will see if having two chapters gets me a few more views. Though when I first started this chapter, it was WAYYYY less (As of writing this, I have 78 views on this Fic. When I started this chapter, I had 16.) Also, please feel free to review! Sorry about my snappage last chapter. Granted, it's not a hugely popular genre, and I get that. But I do hope to appeal to the audience for Death Note/Harry Potter readers. Saying that, I have updated my summary so it sounds less retarded! Yay! If you have any suggestions at all, please let me know by reviewing! And now, enough of my rambling! Chapter 2!
-AA
Late Summer, 1938
Tom Riddle was eleven years old. It had been two years since he had last seen Light Yagami. The memory burned like an ember in his mind, the last time the two had spoken.
"Why did you save me?" Tom asked from the sick room of the small beach house.
"Because." Light had his eyes turned out the window. He hadn't looked at Tom since he had brought him in.
"That's not an answer," Tom said, glaring at Light's head.
The other boy turned towards him and Tom nearly jumped at his expression. The soft, brown eyes that were usually so lighthearted and cheery were sad and depressed, as if a gray cloud had passed in front of them.
"Because you're my friend." Light turned back out the window.
The sandy-haired boy turned from the window and walked to the door, his gaze never moving back to the other boy in the room.
"Goodbye, Tom."
Tom sat alone in his room. It was a cloudy day in London, and the distant thunder was doing nothing to improve his mood. He didn't know why he was feeling so off-beat today. He had a feeling it had something to do about the dream he had just had the previous night.
The memories of the time he had almost drowned were clear as glass in the dream, every detail perfectly remembered.
He hated it.
Feeling weak was never something Tom enjoyed, but then, he rarely felt it at all.
Looking out the window, Tom saw something rather interesting: a man in the strangest suit he had ever seen was walking up the street and to the the orphanage.
He rounded the wall and went out of view, so Tom was left with looking at the gaping residents left in the man's wake.
Tom closed his curtains and sat back on his bed.
There were voices outside in the hall, and then he heard one of the helpers yell for Mrs. Cole.
He tried listening, but they were too far away and Tom had no intention of opening his door if he didn't have to.
Soon, the voices died off and Tom guessed that they had gone into Mrs. Cole's office. He definitely didn't want to go in there.
After laying down for a bit, Tom got up and took a book off the small bookshelf in his room. He sat
After what seemed like a century, Tom heard footsteps on the stairs.
He glanced up just as Mrs. Cole opened the door and the odd man in the purple suit entered with her.
"Tom, you have a visitor. This man's name is Professor Dumbledore. He's come to... well, I'll let him explain." With that, Mrs. Cole bustled out of the room, leaving Tom alone with the oddly-dressed man.
"How do you do, Tom," Dumbledore said, walking to his bed.
Tom only watched him as he neared, eyes never moving from the man's face.
"My name is Professor Dumbledore."
"'Professor?' Is that like a doctor?" asked Tom, his voice icy. He was having a bad enough day without a doctor claiming to be able to help him. "Did she tell you to come look at me?"
Dumbledore sighed. "No, no. Nothing like that."
Tom's gaze narrowed. "I don't believe you. Tell me the truth." His voice rang out, speaking a command. He watched Dumbledore warily, never moving his glare.
For a while, Dumbledore made no response, only smiling pleasantly, causing Tom to be even more on edge.
"Who are you, exactly?" asked Tom, cautious.
"I have told you. My name is Professor Dumbledore, and I am a teacher at a very special school- a school I would like you to be a part of."
Tom leapt up and glared at Dumbledore, his eyes fiery.
"Don't lie to me! You're from the asylum, aren't you?! Well I'm not going! Professor... of course, it makes sense. Well I didn't do anything to Billy Stubbs' rabbit! They all say it's me but they're lying!"
Tom was in a rage, glaring fully into Dumbledore's eyes.
"I am not from the asylum, I am from a school. I will not force you to come with me. If you sit down calmly, I will tell you about Hogwarts. It is a place for people with special abilities."
"I'm not mad!" Tom seethed.
"I am aware you are not mad. Hogwarts is a school of magic."
Tom froze, the anger leaving his eyes to be replaced by an expressionless look, though he watched Dumbledore's eyes, searching for deception.
"Magic?" he repeated, unsure if he heard right.
"Correct."
"Then... it's magic that I can do," breathed Tom.
"What exactly can you do?"
"All sorts," Tom said, his face lighting up. He began to look excited. "I can make things move without touching them. I can make animals do what I want without training them, too. If people are mean to me or annoy me, I can make bad things happen. I can hurt them."
Tom's eyes were bright as he came and sat trembling on the bed.
"I knew I was different. Always." He brought up his hands and whispered, "I knew I had something special in me."
"Well, you are quite right," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "You are a wizard."
His face was changed, mutated, into a look of wild happiness. His finely carved features were now seeming bestial. Tom didn't care right now. He looked at Dumbledore.
"Are you a wizard too?" he asked.
"I am."
"Prove it," Tom said, eyes narrow. His voice was commanding once more. "Tell the truth."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "If you so choose to accept your place at Hogwarts-"
"Of course I will!" Tom interrupted.
"-then you will have to call me 'Professor' or 'sir.'"
There was a momentary flash in Tom's eyes before replying in an unusually polite voice, "I'm sorry, sir. What I meant was, will you please show me-?"
Dumbledore drew his wand and flicked it at the wardrobe. It burst into flames.
Tom jumped up, his eyes blazing. He shrieked in horror and rage. As he rounded on Dumbledore, the flames subsided, the wardrobe perfectly unharmed.
"Where can I get one of those?" Tom asked, looking at the wand.
"All in good time. First, I believe there is something trying to get out of your wardrobe."
Something rattled inside the wardrobe. A chill of fear came over Tom as the rattling grew louder.
"Open the door," said Dumbledore.
Tom walked shakily over, hesitating before flinging the door open.
Inside, Tom saw a familiar cardboard box, rattling as if something was trapped inside.
"Take it out," Dumbledore said.
Tom looked at the quaking box, unnerved.
"Is there something inside there that you ought not to have?" he asked.
Tom gave Dumbledore a clear, calculating look. "Yes, I suppose so, sir," he said in an expressionless voice.
At Dumbledore's command, Tom opened the lid and saw inside the things that he had stolen from the other orphans. His eyes narrowed, barely noticeable.
"You will return those objects to their owners with an apology. I will know if you have done so. Also, be warned- Thieving is not allowed at Hogwarts."
In the same expressionless voice, Tom said, "Yes, sir."
"You have been using your powers in a way that Hogwarts will not allow. We teach you to not only use, but also control your powers to be used for positive purposes. You are not the first, nor the last, to have such natural and unrefined powers. However, we can and will expel such students and the Ministry of Magic will define harsher punishments. All new wizards must understand and accept that."
"Yes, sir."
For the rest of the time, Dumbledore explained how to get money and supplies in Diagon Alley.
"Will you be coming with me?" asked Tom.
"Certainly, if you-"
"I don't need you. I'm used to doing things by myself," said Tom. "I go around London by myself all the time. How do I get to this Diagon Alley-" Tom caught Dumbledore's glance. "-sir?"
Dumbledore handed Tom an envelope.
"This contains the list of things you will need to purchase for your school year. You can get to Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron. Though Muggles, non-magical people, cannot see it, you will be able to. The bartender's name is Tom, easy enough to remember for you-"
Tom gave an irritated twitch at the too-common name.
"You dislike the name 'Tom?'" Dumbledore asked.
"There are lots of Toms," the eleven-year-old muttered.
Tom then got the idea to ask about his family.
After Dumbledore explained gently that he knew next to nothing about Tom's parents, Tom nodded.
"When do I come to Hogwarts?" Tom asked.
"Everything you need to know is on that slip of paper," Dumbledore explained, standing.
"I can talk to snakes, you know," Tom said suddenly, believing this was the right time to state the ability that he was most proud of. "Is that normal, for a wizard?"
Dumbledore looked back at Tom.
"It is unusual," he said, watching the young boy's eyes. "But not unheard of."
The Professor swept to the door.
"Goodbye, Tom. I will see you at Hogwarts."
September 1, 1938
As Tom strode through King's Cross station, he felt as if the world was at his feet.
The faint grin was a sign of how truly delighted he was at the fact he was a wizard.
Diagon Alley had not only been real, but so full of magic that Tom couldn't believe his eyes at first. He saw other children buying similar items and realized that he would most likely be going to school with them.
Never before had he been so happy around other people.
And the one thought that had kept him the happiest was that this made him better. Better than the other orphans, better than the Muggles, better than his mother.
Better than Light Yagami.
The boy who's last words to him had plagued him for four years and who's actions made him doubt himself.
But this. This was proof. Proof that Tom was at long last better than the sandy-haired child of his memories. His actions meant nothing now.
Just another Muggle.
Tom grinned wider at the thought and walked to Platform 9 ¾. He only saw platforms 9 and 10.
Seeing a family with trunks like his, Tom walked over to them.
In a pleasant voice he had been working on, Tom asked, "Ma'm, could you tell me please how to get onto the Platform 9 ¾?"
She looked at his seemingly innocent face and smiled.
"Of course, dearie. You just run straight through that wall."
One of her sons ran forward with his trunk and passed through the barrier. Tom's eyes widened.
Amazing, he thought to himself. Magic right there, and they don't even notice.
Tom ran at the platform wall after her other son and appeared at the station with a bright red train.
"Platform 9 ¾," he breathed, looking at all the wizards and witches getting on the train.
He waved goodbye to the kind woman and boarded the train, finding an empty compartment.
After a short while, two boys about Tom's age, one with curly black hair and the other with smooth, blonde hair, came to the open compartment.
"Can we sit here?" the dark haired one asked. "Everywhere else is full."
Tom motioned to the seats in front of him.
The two entered, putting their trunks on the ledge above.
"I'm Alexander Lestrange. Call me Alex," said the dark-haired one.
"I'm Theodorus Avery. Call me Theo," the blonde said.
Tom smiled. "Tom Riddle. Can't really shorten my name, unless you want to call me 'T.'"
The two laughed and the train took off.
Tom asked them to explain Hogwarts a bit further and listened with rapt attention.
"I'm hoping for Slytherin," said Alex, after they had finished explaining the Houses.
"Yeah, all the powerful people go there," agreed Theo. "But anything's better than Hufflepuff. They say it's for the so-called 'hard-working,' but that's a load of rubbish."
"I dunno," said Alex, leaning back. "I think I'll take Hufflepuff over Gryffindor. They're a bunch of self-righteous hypocrites who claim to be heroes, but exclude anyone they don't see fit."
Tom nodded. He couldn't believe how little he knew compared to these two.
"You'd be good for Slytherin, Tom," said Alex. "You seem like the kinda guy who would wanna achieve greatness."
"Though, there is this whole thing about all Slytherins being evil. Granted, that's all rubbish too, but still. It can be a bit of a downer." Theo looked out the window to the passing countryside as he spoke.
"I hope I'm in Slytherin then, along with you two." Tom smiled at them and they grinned back.
Tom had never had nor wanted friends, but two allies were a good thing to obtain on the first day.
Tom, Alex, and Theo were waiting impatiently outside the Great Hall, along with all the other first years.
Every once and a while, Tom would think that he would hear a not-so-welcome voice, but after searching the large group numerous times, found it safe to say that that person wasn't there.
Finally, the doors opened, and the first years came spilling in.
Tom couldn't help but stare slightly at the sheer size of the Hall.
Candles floated without strings from the ceiling that faded into the sky. The four tables were lined with students, all chattering eagerly at the new first-years.
Finally, the line stopped and a familiar face came up to the podium. Dumbledore set what looked to be an old wizard's hat on the stool next to him.
Suddenly, the rips in the hat formed a face and the hat began to sing.
Tom listened as the hat sang about Hogwarts' history and the founders and the Houses, a more in-depth version of what Alex and Theo had told him on the train.
When the Hat stopped singing, the Hall applauded.
Dumbledore then pulled out a list and said, "We will now begin the Sorting."
A few students went up until Dumbledore said, "Avery, Theodorus."
Theo walked up to the podium, trembling slightly. Most of the other students had been the same, if not outright shaking.
The Hat stayed silent for a moment, then, "SLYTHERIN!"
The Slytherin table cheered as a look of sheer joy and relief crossed Theo's face. He looked to Tom and Alex, waving his fist in the air in triumph.
More and more students passed, Tom not even bothering to take note of their names.
When Dumbledore called "Lestrange, Alexander" the Hat stayed on his head for no more than 20 seconds before crying out "SLYTHERIN!"
Tom saw Theo applaud as Alex sighed in relief. He grinned at Tom, then sat down next to Theo. Tom noticed they kept an empty seat for him.
After what seemed an eternity, Dumbledore announced, "Riddle, Tom."
Tom strode up to the stage, not betraying a single ounce of fear or panic. To them, he seemed as level-headed and confident as could be.
He sat on the stool as the Hat was lowered onto his head and over his eyes.
A voice rang in his head, chuckling.
"Well, you're a nasty one aren't you? So full of hatred and resent."
Tom glared at the Hat.
"You absolutely despise being weak and hate others who are better than you. Alright then..."
The Hat's voice sounded through the Hall: "SLYTHERIN!"
Dumbledore removed the Sorting Hat and Tom allowed himself a slight smile.
He walked to the cheering Slytherins and sat beside Alex and Theo.
For a while, Tom could only relish in the fact that he had not only been a true wizard, but had also been sorted into the most powerful house.
Just as Tom was settling into his personal Heaven, Dumbledore did the unthinkable. The one name that Tom wanted to live the rest of his life without.
"Yagami, Light."
It was as if the world fell silent. Tom watched in horror as the sandy-haired boy walked from the line up to the Sorting Hat. His brown eyes were gleaming with happiness while Tom's were glowing in hatred and agony.
No. not here. How could that Hell-sent demon invade Tom's life yet again? And why here? It wasn't fair!
The brown haired boy sat on the stool and the Hat was placed over his head.
Send him back! Tom screamed in his mind. Send him away, never to return! Don't let him be here!
But the Hat, in all its sadistic triumph, called to the Hall, "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table exploded in cheers, but Tom couldn't hear them. All he saw was Light smile to Dumbledore and walk away from the stool. As he stood, though, his eyes trained directly onto Tom's, tearing into his soul and awful memories.
Then, locking his gaze, a smile formed on Light's lips. He seemed innocent, but his eyes held the same irksome arrogance that Tom had first encountered when they were younger.
The two held in that moment for what seemed an eternity, though it was only a moment to everyone else.
He couldn't understand. How could this happen to him? Did Fate truly hate him so much as to do this?
Things that Tom had thought this new life could suppress would now haunt him forever.
And it was all because of him.
A/N: YAYYYYY! CHAPTER 2 COMPLETE! WOOOOOO! Please review (I won't snap) and follow if you liked it. I will not be abandoning this one! At least, not in the foreseeable future. I MAKE NO PROMISES! Also, I will explain why Light is even going to Hogwarts in upcoming chapters, so no worries. If you have any questions, please ask! I'll do my best to answer. Thanks everyone and Happy ChristHanuKwanSolstYule! (That's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Solstice, and Yule rolled into one, by the way. Sorry if I missed any holidays!)
-AA