This was the only day of the year Tom did not wake up at 6:00 a.m. It was the only day of the year Tom did not want to even leave his bed. It was the most dreaded day of the year. This day was Christmas, of course, and if hating Christmas made Tom Riddle a grinch, so be it.

Today, he would spend the day ALONE, no exceptions- absolutely none.

When Tom was young he had heard about Christmas, it was said to be "the happiest time of year". The day was spent with a loving family while listening to Christmas carols, there was an exchanging of gifts that showed you appreciated someone and other rubbish traditions. Tom had longed for memories like that during his childhood, but he would never have a family to create those memories with. He would never have a Christmas like other children with a loving family. It devastated him, well, it used too.

Tom mentally shoved that train of thought to the back of his mind, not enjoying were this pity party was going. Instead, he concentrated

on his surroundings, the Hogwarts grounds were quit opposing, compared to the orphanage.

There were no peaceful, yet, nettlesome, chirpings of birds as they sang into the cold, crisp, fall air, from atop a maple tree with ever changing leaves. Squirrels did not scurry about, nor were there sidewalks filled with pedestrians. However, the biggest difference was the striking qudditch pitch. At the orphanage there was nothing like it, not even a baseball field. The qudditch pitch had three silver poles standing high in the air, like skyscrapers, and they were surrounded by a ring of stands that will soon be occupied by its corresponding house members, anxious to cheer on their team.

The aura around Hogwarts during the holidays was dreadfully cheerful. The aroma of freshly baked sugar cookies dusted in sprinkles drifted throughout the castle all December long, which lead to Tom wondering outside just to evade the scent. There was also a specific day dedicated to shopping in Hogsmeade, so everyone can find the " perfect " gift for each other. Tom detested that day, it was a complete waste of time. No one bought a gift for him and he had never found someone worthy enough to buy a gift for, therefore the day is better spent learning.

Tom sighed, looking up at the sky. It was going to be a long day.

" Cookie, mate? " Ron asked, shoving a freshly baked sugar cookie shaped like a tree and dusted in green sprinkles towards Harry's mouth. Harry looked down frowning at it.

" No, thanks, " Harry muttered, he was still a bit hurt that Ron and Hermione had befriended Malfoy, but he didn't was his jealousy to stand in the way of their friendship.

" Harry, you haven't ate much of your breakfast, " Hermione looked down at the barley touched plate of food in front of her best friend. " Are you feeling okay? "

" Uh... no, not really, " It was sort of true. He didn't necessarily feel sick, but holidays were the worst. Everyone around was happy and Harry couldn't find it in him to share any of that cheer, every holiday he was miserable. Of course, once he went to Hogwarts and made friends it wasn't so bad, but he still wasn't completely happy either.

" I think I'm just gonna go outside for a bit, " Harry said, excusing himself from the table and exiting the castle.

The air was cool and felt refreshing on his clammy body. When he sighed he watched a puff of his breath float through the air. Then he noticed he wasn't alone. Someone was leaning against a tree and Harry decided to walk over.

Tom Riddle, Harry thought as he got closer to the figure, why is it always Tom Riddle?

Tom appeared to be list in thought as he peered up at the sky. He was wearing his Slytherin robes that were slightly coated in snowflakes and that was the first time Harry acknowledged it was snowing. Harry wondered how he hadn't noticed before, there were even snowflakes dropping on Riddles hair.

" What are you looking at, Potter? " Tom sneered.

" Uh... you have snowflakes in your hair, " the sentence came out uneven and Harry whished it hadn't.

Riddle chuckled with a smile he tried to fight off his face, but his lips were stubborn and stayed turned upward.

" Harry, you're ruining my day, " Tom muttered, " It was supposed to be spent completely alone. "

" Why would you want to spend the holiday alone? " Harry had always spent it alone because he didn't have a family, but Tom... " You don't have a family do you? "

" I'm an orphan, Darling, " Tom said without a hint of emotion, just blankly watching the snow glide through the air.

Harry had known none of this, he had just assumed Riddle had a family, but it turned out he didn't and Harry knew exactly how he felt.

" I'm sorry, " Harry said, sliding down the tree to join Tom on the ground. " That's tough. "

" I don't want your sympathy, Hero. "

Harry and Tom spent the rest of the morning sitting in silence, watching the snow fall. It was freezing, but they didn't think they deserved to be inside in front of a warm fire.

They didn't have a family to care if they were suffering in cold temperatures, they only had each other because no one else understood what they went through on the most dreaded day of the year.

AUTHOR NOTE:

Okay, this is a chapter because of the holidays. Plz leave a review! I hope you enjoyed : )