Chapter 7

A/N: Wow another chapter? What can I say, this summer has me bored. Writing with no direction may not get you the best most organized story, but it sure is fun. We're on the way to Hogwarts, this chapter, and since I'm living vicariously through my OC, it'll feel like I'm going to Hogwarts too. Yes, I am a sad human being with apparently no life.

Tom's POV.

Finally, I was off to the place that felt more like home than any other place; Hogwarts. The students there were ridiculously untalented with the exception of few and the professors were equally clueless, but magic was what made me feel like I had a place. No one else could understand this feeling, particularly the mudbloods; born of worthless muggles and undeserving of the magical world. Even the purebloods, would fail to understand my struggles.

Of course, I wasn't looking for understanding, I wasn't even seeking power. What I wanted went far and beyond that – immortality. I wanted to be immortal.

It was a process I had already started, and intended to finish soon.

Alice's POV.

Finally! Hogwarts. The place I used to call home. I'd never cared much for classes, but the friends, the adventure and the magic was truly incredible.

My mother raised me without magic; she couldn't use her wand without being found by the authorities. She almost banned me from attending Hogwarts, but I refused to eat until she allowed me to go. When my house burned down in the summer of my fifth year, and my mother died, Hogwarts became my home, and after running from it for so long, I was ready to welcome a fully intact Hogwarts.

I had packed my things and set off for Platform 9 ¾, and found a bus waiting for me; the Knight Bus. It was a welcome surprise, up until the moment I was the face of Tom Riddle.

"You-" I started, rather enraged.

"Take a seat, the Knight bus is about to take off." The voice of a shrunken head spoke.

I was pushed into the nearest seat, conveniently next to my worst enemy.

"Well, we meet again." Riddle said dryly. "Dupont is a pureblood name, I'm not too surprised."

"Well thank you for informing me on my name. Can't say the same for Riddle." I was surprised my own courage.

"Don't mess with me, Dupont. I will figure you out, dissect your past piece by piece and destroy you. If you think that you can ruin me, think again."

For a second, I froze, and in Riddle's seat, I saw a pale man in dark robes, missing a nose.

I then proceeded to say something so dumb that I was surprised that Tom Riddle didn't kill me that very instant.

"Immortality comes with a price. I hope you're ready to pay it."

His dark eyes widened and his mouth opened, but no words came. Tom Riddle was, for the first time, speechless.

The rest of the ride was spent in silence, but I could hear my heart thumping loudly, ready to jump out of my throat at any time.

Tom's POV

Dear Diary,

There is something to love about mystery. It's new, it's unexpected… but you must keep in mind – it's dangerous, it's unknown, it could strike at any time.

To most people, I am a mystery. Dark, brooding, cold, unforgiving. To me, the girl is a mystery.

The girl is Alice Dupont, a pureblooded witch, completely unremarkable at first sight. She looks like any orphan – unruly blonde hair, seemingly capable of breaking down any moment, empty eyes, and the occasional quiver in her voice. She has lost someone, or some people, and it shows.

She has secrets; I have seen them in her mind, the death of her friend, her family… but most importantly, she knows mine.

She knows that I strive for immortality. The mystery is this: Does she know or does she guess? Did she take a shot in the dark?

She is bad at hiding, and her secrets will be uncovered. But at what cost? How does she know what she knows? What danger does she bring with her big mouth? Whatever it is, it isn't good.

Alice Dupont, my new mystery, I will unravel you. And when I do, it will be too late for you to do anything about it.

Signing off,

Tom Marvolo Riddle

The girl had gone onto the train, no doubt finding some Gryffindors to chat to. I stepped through the magical barrier and stepped into the train, making my way to compartment number 7.

Seven was a symbolic number. It was the number of times I would split my soul before obtaining what was essentially immortality. I had learned from the books that the price for this "unspeakable act" was murder, which was hardly an issue. The real price for the creation of horcruxes was losing my humanity. I flared my nostrils thinking about the words of the girl.

What did she know? I had just met her.

I entered my compartment to see three chubby first years occupying it. I smiled coldly.

"Hello, I am Tom Riddle, Head Boy. This happens to be my compartment, and I'd like it very much if you moved." I used the smoothest voice possible, putting up my façade. It would stay up for the length of my stay at Hogwarts. Once I accomplished immortality, it would come off. Forever.

I was joined by my 'friends' Abraxas Malfoy, Dexter Black and Jonathan Lestrange. They were hardly adequate for ruling, but they were from wealthy pureblood families, which was something I appreciated in addition to their loyalty.

"My Lord," they spoke in unison.

I smirked at the fearful faces of my followers. Soon there would be so many more fearful faces, and I would be their ruler.

"Calling Head Boy, Head Girl and prefects to the first compartment." A voice announced.

"I must be off, but make sure you treat the mudbloods appropriately." I left without waiting for an answer, knowing that it would be their pleasure to follow through.

I arrived to the compartment with nervous fifth and sixth year prefects, trying their hardest to recall all of their responsibilities. That was me at one point, but of course without the nervousness. The Head Girl was Minerva McGonagall, the only girl in our year seemingly unfazed by my charm.

She was a Gryffindor probably better off as a Ravenclaw, and whose social skills were seriously lacking. Of course, who was I to judge?

"Hello students! You are the best boy and girl of your years, and we expect you to act accordingly. Here is some of the information you need. Prefects, it is your responsibility to circulate the passwords. Head Boy and Girl, we expect you to act as a role model to the other students, and attend all of the school meetings that involve you." The professor was barely getting started,

It was an hour long information session, in which I nodded and smiled, acting as the star student everyone expected me to be, that is, with the exception of Dumbledore.

I returned to my compartment at the end of the meeting, and bumped into my least favorite student on the way.

"Hello, Alice." I said, with a quirk at the edges of my mouth, a completely fake smile, which she obviously saw through.

"I'm not falling for your shit, and by the end of the year, no one else will either." She spat.

"We'll just have to wait and see about that, won't we?" I smiled with teeth this time as she shoved past me and hurried back to her compartment.

Her arrival may not have been ideal to my plans, but it would certainly put a twist on things. And twisted was the way I liked things.

A/N: So, you got to see the creepy twisted side of Tom. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to change him. Ah well, that's an issue for next time, when our beloved characters are off to school.