Chapter 2

Tom tried not to think about what had occurred at the park that Saturday. He told himself it did not mean anything and that, even if it did, it did not matter because he was never going to see that girl again. However, he found his mind constantly drifting to her over the course of the next few days.

He knew the reason. The mind more readily dwelled on what was unusual, out of the ordinary. Out of all his experiences, this one stuck out to him. His brain was busy trying to explain it, but he could not come up with much. Why had the girl been kind to him even when he had been unkind to her? Why had she defended him? Why did she want to be his friend? No one had ever wanted to be his friend. Maybe she did not have any friends either. Perhaps she was lonely.

If she had been lonely, why was she so happy? She probably had a perfect family and never had to worry about everything. She was odd, and he did not want to associate with someone like her. She would probably turn on him eventually, anyway. He did like her name, though. Elora. It was unique, unlike his own. He hated his name. Why couldn't his mother have been more creative? Why couldn't she have stayed alive for him? Couldn't she have tried harder?

Tom shook the thoughts away like raindrops on his hair. It did no good dreaming of what could have been. He was completely alone in the world, and that was the truth he had to face. No one had ever loved him and no one ever would, especially not some stupid little girl he had just met. She could never really care about him. She pitied him. He hated pity.

The boys the two of them had evaded at the park were quick in gaining revenge. They had gone off the property and brought back stinging nettles, which stung when they touched the skin and eventually produced itchy bumps that took awhile to go away. The boys had attacked Tom outside and made sure to brush the leaves all of over his arms and legs. When he had complained to a caretaker, they would not believe his story and instead punished him for wandering outside the property.

He had not been whipped due to his sores, which the boys found infuriating when they discovered it. They proceeded to find Tom alone again and beat him themselves. They were carefully to only go for body parts that could easily hidden by clothes. Tom had tried to fight back, but he was too small and weak.

He now knew better than to go to his caretakers. Why they seemed to have some prejudice against him he would never understand. But the other kids seemed to view him the same way. They thought he was cold, unapproachable. A freak. Lashing out at them for the mistreatment only caused them to confirm their opinions of him. No one wanted to be around him, even the adults who were supposed to be taking care of him.

He was glad he was naturally introverted, for he would have gone mad if he had not enjoyed being alone. At least, within his own mind, he could be safe. Sometimes, though, he could not help but reflect on what other said about him. Was it all true? Was his life bound to darkness? Maybe he had been cursed.

He winced as he walked to his room after his beating. He could not let anyone see his pain, lest he be punished further. He sucked in a sharp breath. Everything hurt; there was no way to escape the pain. Even when he was not physically harmed, the emotional and psychological torture he had to endure was almost unbearable. He often wondered if it would be better to shut off his emotions entirely. Maybe then it would not hurt as much. He was already trying not to care, trying to become hardened so that nothing could hurt him. He was still young, though, and some days were more successful than others. On this particular day, he was helpless to prevent a few tears from spilling down his cheeks as he lay on his back on his bed.

He hated his life. He hated not having control over anything. He was a victim subject to any harsh treatment others wished. He hated feeling so helpless. He desperately sought some sort of power. He had a deep desire to prove everyone wrong and show them that he was not worthless. He needed to prove to them how strong he could be. He needed control over something. He needed to learn how to survive in the world. Sometimes despair overwhelmed him. Was there nothing special about him at all? He wondered if there was anyone in the world as miserable as he.

He did enjoy the trips to the park. The kids at the orphanage were split into four groups, and they took turns visiting the park on Saturdays. Tom's week was always the first of the month. Even in the winter when snow covered the ground and the only thing to do was sled down the hill near the soccer field, he felt his spirit renewed. The park was the only place where he ever felt free. It was the only time he was away from the orphanage and did not feel like a prisoner. He could go explore the wide, open area. The fresh air did wonders for him. He did not even have to interact with the other kids; he just found a place alone to be with nature. For one afternoon a month, he could feel at peace.

September could not come soon enough for Tom, but arrived it did. He was now fully healed from all of his wounds, for which he was grateful. He decided he best not test his luck for awhile. There was a light wind this Saturday, but he did not mind. This was his day.

While most of the other young children ran for the playground, Tom walked past it until he reached the other side of the shrubs. There was a small area here that he liked to go to. He stood there and looked around, wondering what he should do now. There was so much potential in the day; he only had to find out how to use it.

He turned around when he heard someone hiss "hello." He frowned when he saw that no one was there. His eyes flickered to the ground. He was slightly surprised to see a green snake in front of him. He had lifted its body partly up, and it was looking at him. "Closer."

Tom started; his eyes widened in surprise. Had that snake spoken to him? Maybe he was becoming mad after all. There was no way this was really happening. Still, he had a sliver of curiosity, so he knelt down to the ground in order to get a better look at the creature. "Hello," he said calmly. "You can speak?"

"No," the snake said, flicking out its tongue. "You can."

Tom wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion. Was the snake trying to say that he was the one with special abilities? The reptile was sadly mistaken. "No. There's nothing unique about me."

"Wrong again," hissed the snake.

Tom frowned, contemplating these words. Before he could think of anything else to say, he heard a young female voice behind him:

"Are you talking to that snake?"

Tom quickly stood up and spun around. He was surprised to find that the intruder was the girl he had met the previous month. He could not dwell on that now, though, for he had to answer my question. "So what if I am?" he said. She had no right to label him weird considering how odd she was herself.

But Elora's face held a look of wonder, not condemnation. "Can you understand it? Can it understand you?"

Tom looked at her in puzzlement. Why would she jump that conclusion? "Yes," he said slowly. He paused before adding, "I'm not mad."

The girl shook her head. "I don't think you are. You're a parselmouth!"

Tom blinked. "What?"

The girl was grinning now. There was something in her eyes that made him uncomfortable. "You can speak parseltongue. It's snake language."

Now Tom was even more confused. "How can I speak a language without knowing it?"

"It's a special power that some wizards and witches have," Elora said. "My mum says it's rare."

Her words caused his breath to catch in his throat. "Wizards?"

The girl smiled. "I thought you were a muggle, but I was wrong. You could only speak parseltongue if you were a wizard."

"I'm a… wizard?" There was awe in his voice, and a strange feeling stirred inside him.

Elora grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I'm a witch. You're magical just like me."

Tom let a sense of wonder envelop him. He was a wizard. That meant he was special after all! But…

He immediately hardened again as a thought struck him. Why should he believe this girl? It was not like she did not know how to make up stories. She believed in things that did not exist, including wizards and magic. Sure, he thought he had talked to that snake, but it was probably just some cruel trick played by one of the other orphan boys.

No, he could not let himself believe her. He could not let himself feel hope when it was just going to be snatched back again; he would not be able to bear it. "I don't believe you," he said.

The smile instantly vanished from the girl's face. "What? But you spoke to the snake!"

"It's a prank," Tom said. "It wasn't real. Magic isn't real."

The girl shook her head vigorously, seeming frantic. "No! It is real. My parents are wizards, and my brother and sister, and my grandma. My whole family is magical."

"Yeah right," Tom said scathingly. "You're making it up like you made up the dragon."

"Dragons are real," Elora said, "but I was just playing. This is real. You are a wizard and I am a witch."

He desperately wanted to believe her, but how could he? He needed to see it. "Prove it."

The girl faltered. "I – I can't. I don't have my powers yet."

Tom ignored the feeling of disappointment and turned away. He had to get out of there before she made it hurt worse.

"Tom! Wait!"

For some reason, he stopped. Maybe he really was desperate.

"There's a school called Hogwarts that wizards and witches go to when they are 11," Elora said as she came to face him again. "My brother and sister go there. They have wands. Hogwarts has four housed: Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff. Could I make up all these names?"

She seemed desperate as well, and Tom wondered at the reason. What did it matter to her if he was a wizard? "Yes," he replied as he crossed his arms.

The girl looked crushed. "I – I-"

Tom had to end this. "Goodbye," He tried to walk away again.

"No!" Elora cried from behind him. "What if – what of – we can try to do magic together?"

Against his better judgment, Tom stopped again. He felt the same feeling he had earlier. What if she was telling the truth? It was best make sure. He let out a heavy sigh as he turned around. "What do you mean?"

The girl seemed to brighten slightly. "We might have more power if we try together. We might be able to do something."

Tom raised his eyebrows. "Do what?"

"I don't know. Just try."

Tom held in another sigh. Well, what did he have to lose? He walked up to her until he was a foot away. "Ok. What do I do?"

Elora smiled slightly. "Just want it. Feel powerful."

That was easy for her to say. He had never felt powerful in his life. He did want, though. He closed his eyes and focused on taking steady breaths. He tried to will the earth to move under his control.

When he opened his eyes, nothing had change. "It didn't work," he said bitterly.

But Elora was smiling. "No. Look." She pointed above them.

Tom gasped when he saw an acorn floating in midair between them and a tree. He held there for several seconds, and then it crashed to the ground. His eyes were wide as he stared at the girl in front of him. She had been telling the truth after all. "I'm a – a-"

The girl smiled warmly at him. "You're a wizard."

Tom's mouth fell open in shock. He felt dizzy, and he could hardly breathe. Dazed, he said, "Tell me more."

"Of course!" Elora said brightly. She sat down in the grass, and he followed suit. "There's a while wizarding world but we're sworn to secrecy because muggles can't handle it."

Tom blinked. There was that word again. "Muggles?"

"Non-magical people. Anyway, when wizards are 11, they receive a letter from Hogwarts to attend the school. Then they have to go to Diagon Alley to get their wand and school supplies."

"Where is Hogwarts?" Tom asked.

"In Scotland," Elora said. "You live there when there's school, but you go home during summer and breaks."

This news was even more wonderful than the last. If he went to Hogwarts, he would have a whole school year away from the orphanage. No school could be as bad as hat orphanage. And he would be learning magic. Power. Control. Everything he had always desired. It seemed too good to be true, but how could he deny it now? "How will I get a letter?" he asked. "Do they know I'm a wizard?"

"They will once your magic develops more," Elora said. "There's a Ministry of Magic, and they can tell when and where magic is used."

"This sounds brilliant," Tom said as excitement began to bubble in his chest. "But we have to wait three years?"

Elora smiled weakly. "I know. It's a long time. But I can tell you more about magic and wizards while we wait. When do you come to the park?"

"The first Saturday of the month," Tom said. Looking the girl over, he decided she was not so bad after all. She was someone he could tolerate. Besides, he wanted to learn as much as he could from her. Things were finally looking up. "Can you be here?"

"I think so," Elora said. "I'll get my Granny to take me." She smiled at him. "Does this mean we're friends?"

Tom hesitated. He had never had a friend before, and he was not sure what it entailed. However, no one had ever treated him as nice as Elora, so he supposed he could give it a try. "Yes," he said.

Elora grinned and held out her hand. Tom felt something strange as he shook it, but it was a good feeling. The world had changed for him, and he had never been happier.

Tom spent hours upon hours analyzing and dissecting everything Elora had told him, his heart thumping madly as he did so. He still found it all too wonderful to comprehend. He had power he did not even know of. He would become strong and show the world his greatness. He would be worth something. And perhaps he could get back at all those who had ever harmed him. For the first time in his life, the future looked bright.

He was eager when he found Elora on the first Saturday of October. They met at their usual place. She was smiling at him, and he found that he felt lighter in her presence.

"Do you want to play a game first?" she asked. "I have too much energy."

"Ok," Tom agreed. He had never been invited to play games with other children, and he wondered what it was like.

Elora grinned and bounced on the balls of her feet excitedly. "Let's play monster tag! The person who is It has to say on the gravel, while the person running has to stay off the gravel." She pointed to the play set. "The gravel is lava, and the person who is It is a lava monster."

Tom smirked in amusement. Cute game. "Ok. I will be it."

With a giggle, Elora ran off towards the play set. Tom had no choice but to run after her.

The boy actually had a good time playing tag. Somehow, it was exhilarating, and it sure did leave him tired. When they had had enough, the two kids walked back to their little area behind the hedges and plopped down on the grass.

"Tell me about magic," Tom said.

Elora smiled. "Ok." And she did.

Tom was completely captivated by everything she said. He had never cared to listen to anyone before, but her words sounded beautiful to his ears. He frequently questioned her, begging to know more.

"I can't wait until I can do magic," Tom murmured at a lull in the conversation.

"It's going to be great," Elora agreed. "We'll both get to go to Hogwarts together, and we can continue to be friends."

Tom felt cramped from sitting for so long, so he stood up to stretch his limbs. He watched as the girl did the same. "Why do you want to be friends with me?"

"I like you," Elora said. She hesitated. "And I don't really have many friends." She glanced down, seeming embarrassed.

Tom frowned at her response. For some reason, this bothered him. "I don't have many friends either," he admitted. "None actually. I never have."

Elora looked up at him in surprise. "People think I'm odd."

"You are," Tom said. When she frowned, he added, "But that's not bad. I like it." It was true. She was definitely strange, but if she liked him, she must have been alright.

Elora smiled at this. "Thanks. Why don't you have friends?"

Tom shrugged. "Other people think I'm a freak. They don't like how I act. I don't seek out others, and I don't show much emotion. They think I'm destined for bad things."

Elora gasped. "Don't listen to them. You can be whoever you want to be. It's your choice."

Tom blinked. He had a choice? He had never seen much option than what others had laid out for him. "Really?"

Elora smiled closely. "Of course. I'll show you. I'm you friend."

When she touched his hand, he jerked back out of surprise. No one had ever touched him except to shake his hand or harm him. Her touch felt… good. Strange.

Elora frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"

Tom shook his head. "No. It's fine." He was not sure what to make of the new emotion he was feeling.

Elora smiled again. "Good."

Then she did something truly unexpected. She hugged him. Tom had never been hugged in his life, and he did not really know how to respond. Her body felt warm pressed against his; he found that he liked it. He slowly wrapped his arms around her, which seemed to be correct. Why did this feel so good?

"Elora!"

Tom pulled back from the girl when he heard an adult woman's voice. Looking up, he saw that the woman had short, blond hair and hazel eyes.

Elora bit her lip. "Hi, Mum."

"It's time to go," the woman said pursing her lips.

"Ok," Elora said. She gave Tom a small smile. "Goodbye, Tom."

The woman took her arm and pulled her away before he could respond. "Goodbye, Elora," he said to her receding form.