Kids! Time for breakfast!" Aberforth yelled up the stairs. He got out of the way as a tidal wave of children came pouring out of the stairwell. Aberforth had roughly thirty children in his orphanage, from ages 6 months to 15. He loved working with most of the kids, some others were right terrors.
"What are we doing today, Ab?" asked one of the younger kids.
"Well today all the older children and myself are going to Diagon Alley for school supplies, Hogwarts will be starting in a few weeks." said Aberforth ruffling the boy's hair. After everyone was finished, Aberforth cleared the plates from the table and retired to his room.
Tom was in his room, silently pacing. He was pondering Hogwarts and magic and his abilities that had developed over time. He could summon things to him, hurt the other children in the orphanage if they bothered him, he was particularly good with manipulating fire, and he considered his greatest ability to be his power to talk to snakes. It made him different, it made him special. He loved it, despite the fact that all snakes would ever talk about was heat and food.
He hoped Hogwarts would teach him what he wanted to know. He wanted answers about all aspects of magic and what could it do, what limits could it be pushed to, and what limits he could push himself. He paused and looked out the window to see Aberforth and the other children walking, toward the supply trip toward Diagon Alley. Tom briskly walked downstairs and caught up with the others.
"Where should we go next, Hermione?" asked McGonagall.
"I think a wand should be next." said Hermione, letting Professor McGonagall lead the way. Hermione had gone with Professor McGonagall to Diagon Alley because her parents, being Muggles and all, were nervous about the whole thing. They would and support Hermione throughout her education, but would prefer to keep her magic and her studies at an arms length.
After getting her wand they went to Flourish and Blott's for books since it would take the longest; Hermione was scanning her booklist for what she needed when she bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry, are you alright?" Hermione asked the dark haired boy she bumped into.
"I'm fine. Watch where you're going next time will you?" said the boy.
"I'm Hermione Granger. I do usually watch where I'm going except when it comes to rude people like you." Hermione said offering her hand to the boy. He smirked at her dig before taking her hand.
"Tom Riddle. Absolutely lovely to meet you, Miss Hermione Granger." said Tom dramatically.
"Are you starting Hogwarts this year too?" asked Hermione.
"Yes. I'm hoping for Slytherin. What about you?" Tom asked.
"I would enjoy Ravenclaw, though Slytherin would be nice. I don't know if they'd take me though. I'm Muggleborn you see." said Hermione said. She saw something flash in his eyes before they returned to their normal shade of deep cobalt.
"It was pleasant talking to you Hermione. I hope to see you in Slytherin." said Tom with an air of finality as he walked away. Hermione then decided that it would be a very good idea to no longer mention her blood status to anyone.
"You'll remember to keep up with your studies won't you Hermione?" asked Caroline Granger, fussing over her daughter's hair once more before she boarded the train.
"Yes mum. I will. I promise." said Hermione untangling her mother's hands from her hair.
"You have to let her go now, Caroline." said John Granger, chuckling. Hermione hugged her father tightly before grabbing her trunk to board the train. She opened the door of the first empty compartment she found and placed her trunk down. She pulled out one of the extra books that she had picked up in Diagon Alley and began to read. The train ride to Hogwarts was relatively calm, she didn't have any interruptions beside a small brown haired boy who was looking for a toad. When the train finally stopped Hermione was swept up in the plethora of students rushing about to secure their luggage and grab seats on the carriages; She ventured toward the booming voice that was telling the first years to go to the boats. Hermione clambered into a nearby boat with two other first years and a moment later the boats set off on their short journey to Hogwarts castle.
"How positively lovely is it to meet you again, Miss Granger." She recognized the boy's voice from Diagon Alley.
"Mr. Riddle, how marvelous it is to see you again. Still hoping for Slytherin?" said Hermione deciding to humor the boy across from her.
"Would there be any other House I would be sorted into?" asked Tom smugly.
"I think for you, Hufflepuff would be a particularly good choice. Or perhaps Gryffindor." said Hermione jovially. Tom's face looked as if someone had told him he were a squib. Hermione, didn't get to see his reaction for the boats had docked at Hogwarts; the first years jostled their way up the steps and were ushered into a small room adjacent to some large oak doors. Hermione had lost Tom in the crowd, but the last time she had seen him he was conversing with a tow headed boy with two people who Hermione assumed were friends of the blond boy. The nervous first years' conversations were interrupted by a witch who walked into the room. It was Professor McGonagall, the same witch who had taken her to Diagon Alley, same tight bun and no nonsense look about her.
"When you walk through these doors you will be Sorted into one of four Houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Your achievements will win you points for your House, and your mistakes will make you lose them. Welcome to Hogwarts." And with that the Professor pushed open the doors and led the first years inside. The Great Hall was massive and very impressive to look at. There were candles floating and flickering above them casting a sort of mysterious glow around the Great Hall. On the sides of the grand room there were four long tables each embossed with a symbol of that House. Directly ahead was another long table horizontally on a platform, behind it four hourglasses that were empty, but in the top were large collections of rubies, golden nuggets, sapphires, and emeralds respectively. Hermione looked to the person beside her to make a comment about the enchanted ceiling, but was surprised to see Tom without so much as a smile on his face.
"Nothing really impresses you does it?" asked Hermione half rhetorically.
"You will find that very few things impress me, Miss Granger." said Tom lowly.
"I would love to see the things that do." said Hermione turning toward Professor McGonagall.
"Abbot, Hannah!" shouted Professor McGonagall. A small blonde haired girl tentatively walked up to Professor McGonagall and sat on the stool, while the Professor placed the dusty old hat on her head. There was a pause before the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!" and the second table erupted into cheers. More and more first years were Sorted until it was Hermione's turn.
"Where to put you, where to put you." said a voice in Hermione's head.
"Somewhere where I can be me, without being judged." thought Hermione.
"Gryffindor would be good, but then again Ravenclaw would be too. Not where you truly belong though."
"Then where do I belong?" thought Hermione.
"I'm getting to that soon, girl. Now Ravenclaw or Slytherin? Eagles or snakes? Ravenclaw will help guide you, but you will be more powerful in Slytherin. Better be SLYTHERIN!" the Hat shouted the last part and the Slytherin table erupted into cheers.