Wool's Orphanage in Dartmouth Park was a stone building that resembled a fortress. The high outer walls were attached to the sharp iron gates which were covered with barbed wire, and the wooden front door seemed to be as solid as if it were made of metal and all the windows had bars on them. 'This place would become his home' and with that thought, Alexander Mercer finally found himself regretting ever leaving his white house and the green garden of number 4 Privet Drive though he wouldn't miss the Dursley's at all the house was in a nice area that though stuffy and seemingly perfect and normal it had a much perkier atmosphere that's for sure. It was hard to believe that this was where he would start to live his new life, in the dark dreary place but on the bright side dark and dreary didn't bother him as much as it should since really you can't get much more dreary than a broom cupboard . Alex could see that his lie was in the process of costing him one of his favourite things and that was quiet. Yet he made no gesture of decline despite his anxiety. The two policemen who surrounded him since the departure of the police looked on compassionate, seeming to understand what the child felt. Sometime later, a woman with short blond hair out of the orphanage and came to open the gate, she wore a simple black dress and she looked less than welcoming, it was not hard to guess that the addition of Alexander was not a welcomed one

- Good morning, I was expecting you. Is he is the child of whom you talk about on the phone? Asked the woman

- Absolutely Ms. Cole Alexander Mercer voila, your newest resident.

- Okay, come into my office, I'll give you some papers to sign, it is important for the archives of the orphanage.

- We'll follow you.

The interior was even worse than the outside. The walls were painted in a gray that Alexander could only call depressing, there was not an array or any objects to clear the austerity of the place, black and white stones clashed with a small wooden staircase which seemed ready to s' collapse at any time and only a glass door opened slightly produced any light. The office of Ms. Cole, however, was a soothing blue and a large wardrobe and a desk recently waxed looked quite expensive. Once administration was completed, the two policemen saluted Alexander and promised to return if they found his uncle", then they took their leave and closed the door behind them then left through the heavy gate.

- Well, I'll show you around and then I'll show you your room, it will be shared with another child, single rooms are all taken.

It really does not bother her new boarder who had never had the chance to share something with someone because Dudley always managed to make everything his alone. He was shown the classroom and the games that were old and damaged over the years, the library that smelled of old paper and then hospital where he was introduced to the nurse Martha Claus, the big courtyard was paved too allowed children to take in the fresh air and finally the dining room ... which was filled with people. Their arrival was immediately noticed by all the residents and staff, Mrs. Cole took the opportunity to make her announcement, making sure to put Alexander under everyone's scrutiny.

- This is Alexander Mercer, now he will live with us for some time. So make him feel right home, punctuated the woman on this last sentence.

She then shoved him into a free place on a bench and asked the cook to give him something to eat, and then everyone resumed the conversation as if nothing had interrupted. Alexander felt immediately excluded as, his neighbours were too busy arguing among themselves to even think about wanting to make his acquaintance, with a sigh, he concentrated on the plate that they had brought him: the soup had far too much water and a slice ham was mostly fat dessert was a small green apple. He didn't notice that two tables away a boy was watching him with interest and distrust.

When all had finished their plates, they gave the children permission to go get some fresh air in the courtyard. Alexander followed them out and then sat back against the glazed brick wall, shivering because of the wind.

He looked at the other children in their tightly formed groups, but he could not finding the courage to talk to them, after a few minutes he went to get up to stretch his legs when necklace that had brought him here fell out of his pocket and he remembered everything that had happened to him since he had found the necklace. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't see a bunch of kids approached him, one of them did not hesitate to snatch the necklace from his hands, and this brought him back to reality. He realized very quickly that they wanted to intimidate, by the experience he had with his cousin.

- Hey new kid, have a nice daydream? Grinned a big blond kid who looked kind of stupid.

- Give me back my necklace! Alexander protested. It is mine.

- Well not for long, now that I have, I'm keeping it.

- But it belonged to my mother! Please give it back

- Poor kid, it's a souvenir of his mother, said another boy sarcastically as he ran his hand through his bright red hair.

- Hey is the new kid going to cry, the blond laughed while holding the necklace over alexander's head.

Alexander glanced from right to left in the hope of seeing an adult who could help but there was obviously no one to help him, as usual.

- so new kid I'm the boss here and if you want your necklace back you have to beg me first the blonde said looking down at him smugly

- No way! Yelled Alexander.

- Well you'll just have to learn some respect then

Immediately the group rushed at Alexander, despite his protests and attempts to struggle, he was pinned to the ground and forced on to his knees. The blond stood in front of his face and began to taunt him, telling him to recover his property if he really wanted it. This lasted several minutes and none of the other children moved to help, some even pretended not to notice.

Alexander began to weep tears of rage and helplessness, furious at being so weak. The anger and hatred came over him very quickly, the same feelings he felt, whenever he went he was abused.

- give it to me! Shouted Alexander.

- No, said the others in unison.

- give it back! He repeated.

- NO. They said then they continued laughing.

- GIVE IT BACK TO ME! Alexander exploded this time.

This is outburst was enough to trigger Alexander's magic so Without having had time to understand, the group kids found them self's catapulted several meters from their victims, under the astonished eyes of other residents. When they got up, blood was dripping from their hair, their lips and blisters began to cover their faces, they looked at Alexander with terror in their eyes. Then they got up and fled, crying and running as if they had the devil in pursuit.

Alexander himself had watched the spectacle in silence, but the tension released as quickly as it had appeared. So without even bothering to get up, he wept. His resentment and determination growing as he shed each tear if nobody would be kind to him. he would live his life making sure that one day they would regret making him feel such pain from now on he would live for his own pleasure, he would never let anyone hurt him, and he would take his revenge on all those who refused his kindness. It was now a promise to himself one he would keep for the rest of his days.

At that moment a boy of about 7 years with a pale complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes picked up the necklace that the older kids had dropped and approached the newcomer. How long have watched it? More than an hour may be but he was not disappointed. When he had seen Alexander with Mrs. Cole when they came in the room, he had considered the boy just another uninteresting orphan but then he seen it a faint sort of crackling greenish fire him alone could see around the boy . At once, he realized: this boy was like him, he had a gift. He had seen the idiot Billy Stubbs and his gang tortured him but he had not moved he wanted to test his theory. Initially, he was disappointed to see the boy simply ask for his stuff back, he went to leave the boy in the hands of his tormentors, but then again he felt and seen the fire crackle around the boy , making him tremble with excitement. The decision was then made because he was the only other person to possess the gift he would make him an ally, partner, and who knows, maybe his first friend.

Once he stood to his full height, Alexander noticed another presence and looked up to see a boy, the boy then handed him the locket, a soft smile, eyes shining with something Alex didn't recognise . Alexander took back the necklace with force, just case the boy tried to take it away again, but the other did nothing to prevent it. Once Alex knew the boy wasn't going to start anything he opened his mouth to thank him for his necklace but was interrupted.

- You made a big splash by scaring away the biggest bully's no one will dare to oppose you; you did well, showing off your superiority to those fools.

- Who are you? Alexander asked, puzzled.

- I'm like you, I too have the gift.

- Pardon?

- The strength that allowed you to defend yourself, what you did to those bully's I can do things like that as well.

- You're like me?

- Yes, and I'll prove it.

The intriguing boy again focused on the necklace and then, as easily as they reach out, the subject left the hand of Alexander and went calmly into the other. Amazed, Alexander began to look at the boy with unfeigned joy: he had found someone like him, who did things just as strange. He was not alone he was not a freak.

- In fact, I'm Tom Riddle, the boy said, holding out his hand in friendship.

Alexander shook it with pleasure. Finally, he had lost part of his freedom but he gained something even better: a friend.