Ch.2: Playing With Snakes

...

"So you see, Professor, I am here on a super important mission for the ministry, and I was supposed to be coming with someone just as qualified, but then Madeline here ran into me, and now… I'm back with her, I suppose," Azaria concluded, ending a long-winded story that Maddie had only half listened to. From what the Gryffindor could tell, Azaria claimed that her father, the Head of the Department of Mysteries, had sent her back in time on a 'top secret mission' that not even Dumbledore was to know about.

Maddie didn't believe a word of what the other girl was saying, but thankfully it didn't seem much like Dumbledore did either. His face was tight and his eyes were narrowed suspiciously. It was clear that he doubted the Slytherin's words- probably because she was a Slytherin- but didn't have any way to actually refute what she was saying.

After an extremely long pause, Dumbledore sighed and skeptically said, "I suppose the Ministry also decided that I was to be your uncle."

"Yes," Azaria replied.

"May I please hear your cover story in more detail?"

Azaria nodded.

"Your brother had two children that you were not aware of. In our time, it's rather common knowledge that the two of you haven't gotten on for years, so it would only be natural for you not to know. It'd also make sense that Aberforth would homeschool those children rather than send them to Hogwarts. However, if the Ministry's sources are correct, Aberforth was forced into hiding two days ago. Having two daughters on the run is somewhat dangerous, so he sent them to live at Hogwarts for their own protection."

Dumbledore pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, closing his eyes and exhaling sharply. He looked extremely stressed, and Maddie knew that he was having a hard time deciding what to do.

Finally his shoulders hunched just slightly, and he looked up, a decision evidently made. A beat passed where all was silent, and then the Transfiguration professor heavily said, "Very well then. I suppose I cannot turn you out, and though it pains me to allow students with whom I am not familiar into the school at a time such as this, there seems to be no humane alternative. Madeline, Azaria, you will begin classes tomorrow. Because Mister Riddle has already seen you in those robes, you shall stay in your current houses. Now, what year are the two of you?"

"I'm a seventh, and she's a sixth," Maddie said.

"Okay. I will tell Dippet about the arrival of my two nieces immediately. Your timetables should be prepared by tomorrow morning, and your trunks ready by then as well.

"As I'm sure you understand, you are not to tell anyone of your true identities, nor are you to reveal any information about the future. You are to make as small an impact as you possibly can, and, in the meantime, I will do my best to find a way to return you to your own time."

"Thank you so much, Professor," said Azaria. Her voice was too sweet, and Maddie knew she didn't mean it. "We really appreciate your kindness."

"See that you don't take advantage of it," said Dumbledore warningly, eyes fixed on the Slytherin. "Now I'm sure you know where to find your common rooms. Good night, and I shall see you tomorrow."

Azaria left without another word, but Maddie hesitated. Her attention was fixed on the nearly full moon outside, and her hands clenched into fists at the sight of it, nails digging into her skin as she felt the ache in her stomach grow worse at the presence of the glowing silver orb. She had to tell Dumbledore her secret… he needed to know, but…

There was no Wolfsbane in this time, so what difference would it make? Werewolf rights were almost nonexistent so far in the past, at least from what Maddie knew, and she wasn't even sure if she'd be allowed to stay at the school if she told him what she really was. What if he kicked her out?

No. She wouldn't, couldn't tell him. She'd find someplace to hide tomorrow, and then brew her own Wolfsbane for the next month.

"Do you need something, Madeline?"

Maddie tore her eyes away from the moon and shook her head.

"No, Professor. I don't."

Then she hurried away before he could tell she was lying.

…

"Who is she?"

"She looks like hell."

"Look, there's a trunk."

"It says Madeline Dumbledore. Dumbledore. Do you think they're related?"

"She has red hair like he does."

"I really think we should wake her up."

"But look how pale she is! I think she's ill. Perhaps we should leave her be."

Maddie peeled her eyes open slowly, willing the too-loud voices to shut up. It didn't take long for everything to come flooding back to her. Running into Azaria Warrington. Going back in time. Chatting with Lord Voldemort. Now she was supposed to start classes today… when she could feel that the full moon was fast-approaching.

How wonderful.

"She's awake!" cried one girl. Maddie groaned and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hands.

"Yeah," Maddie muttered. She forced herself into a sitting position and stretched muscles that were already aching with the feel of her impending change. "I'm awake." She yawned and noticed that her roommates were all dressed and ready. "And it looks like I'm late. Er… what time is it?"

"Almost seven," said a small brown-haired girl. "Classes don't start until eight, so you'll have plenty of time for breakfast. I mean… if you want to go. You look rather ill."

Maddie smiled humorlessly. "I'll survive. I'm just a bit tired from my journey. Oh, I'm Maddie Dumbledore, by the way, but... I guess you all know that."

The girls all looked relieved that she wasn't dead, which Maddie could understand perfectly. She knew she started to look like death itself during the end of her cycle.

"I'm Erica Brown," said the brown-haired girl. The other two girls introduced themselves as Sarah Patil and Julia Henderson.

"Nice to meet you," said Maddie politely. She then cautiously swung her legs over the side of her bed, making a face when they protested at the movement. Maybe it'd be best just to skip classes. She'd hardly gotten any sleep the night before, and really, if Tom Riddle was Head Boy, that meant he was in her year, and Maddie really didn't want to sit in class all day with a teenaged Voldemort. Even if Voldy was supposedly a priggish teacher's pet back in his Hogwarts days (or at least according to Professor Binns he was), she wasn't at all eager to be in the same room as a guy who was hankering to exterminate her race. It was terrifying and stressful, and just plain wrong.

"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Sarah.

Maddie shook her head and scrounged up a smile. Really, she did need to go to classes today. She sure as hell wasn't going to be able to the next, not after the full moon, and missing her first two days at Hogwarts would only draw unwanted attention.

Might as well get the worst of it out of the way.

"Of course," Maddie said. "I'm fine."

Tired and achy and really wishing for something to dull the pain, Maddie shoved herself into the first clothes she grabbed out of her trunk, and then she followed her roommates down to the Great Hall, listening to them babble about people she didn't know. Erica and Julia dominated the conversation, chattering about classes and Erica's boyfriend, and then they got going on about cute guys and Maddie was just about ready to make a run for it when Julia said, "Although you have to admit that Riddle is the cutest guy in the school, no contest."

Erica giggled and opened her mouth to reply, but Maddie cut her off by blurting, "That's disgusting!" When both girls looked at her in confusion, she hurriedly said, "I mean, that's the Head Boy, right? Because he helped my sister and I last night, and he was a no-good loser ponce if I ever saw one. A Slytherin, too."

"Oh, he's just sweet," Julia said hurriedly, while both Sarah and Erica looked at her in absolute shock. "He isn't so bad when you get used to him. Really, I've never seen Riddle act like a Slytherin at all."

"But he does," Maddie insisted a little too loudly. "He just hides it real well. I swear, he looked at me like I was an idiot whenever I opened my mouth last night. Not like you guys are doing now- that I'm used to- but like he'd like to hex my tongue out permanently."

Erica and Julia both laughed.

"No offense, Madeline-"

"Maddie."

"-but I think you might be a little bit off your rocker. Riddle isn't like that."

"Well, I happen to think him a right bastard. He was full of himself. Any halfwit could see it." Maddie nodded importantly, but the girls both just laughed. Sarah looked like she wanted to say something, but they got to the Great Hall before she got the chance. Maddie sighed loudly. Apparently Justin White's History of Magic notes were right, saying Voldemort was popular back in school. Not like she could blame the girls for sticking up for him. He was a right masterpiece, Tom was. A condescending, soulless git, but a real Adonis if she ever saw one.

"Anyway," said Erica as they stepped into the Great Hall, "this is the Great Hall."

"Really?" asked Maddie. And here I thought it was the potions classroom. Sarah snorted behind them.

"Uh-huh. And those are the House tables. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin… hey, who's that girl sitting at the end of Slytherin table? I don't think I recognize her."

Maddie craned her neck, but she already knew who she was going to see. Scrunching her nose up into an ugly expression, she explained, "That's my baby sister."

"She looks taller than you," said Erica.

"Growing spells. She was an insecure child."

"You two look nothing alike."

"Yeah, well. Mum was a bit loose. Thought my dad was nothing more than a simplistic goat farmer, so she ran off and threw herself at random Muggle street-urchins. The pinch-faced bastard probably belongs to one of them."

The three girls all gaped, and Maddie shrugged lightly and left them behind as she went on to the Gryffindor table, waving sweetly at Azaria as she passed her. The Slytherin didn't so much as look up from her toast.

And that's why I don't feel guilty about making her the illegitimate daughter of a Muggle street-urchin, Maddie thought as she plopped down next to a gangly boy with long red hair. She grabbed a roll and started nibbling the edges, not hungry enough to eat much else.

"You must be Madeline Dumbledore."

Maddie glanced at the boy in surprise.

"And you must be a seer."

He laughed. "I'm afraid not. Headmaster Dippet made the announcement just before you got here. He even made your sister come to the front of the room and introduce herself. She looked about ready to kill him."

"Yes, well, Azaria is quite the charmer," Maddie said lightly. She took a sip of pumpkin juice.

"I'm Ignatius Prewett, by the way," said the boy. "And… I think your friends just ditched you."

Maddie followed his gaze to see that the girls she'd walked in with were all seated at the other end of the table. Erica was snuggling close to a brawny blond boy, and Julia was sitting next to them. Sarah was at least three places away from anyone else, her dainty little nose buried in a thick book.

"Eh, I wouldn't call them my friends quite yet," said Maddie indifferently. "Or ever. I believe they think I'm strange."

"You wouldn't be related to Dumbledore if you weren't," said Ignatius, but jokingly. "Don't worry. I'll introduce you to some of my friends later. They've already left for class, but I'm sure they'll appreciate any strangeness on your part. Anyway, I'm sure you've got nothing on Charlus-"

"May I please cut in?"

Maddie turned to see Dumbledore standing behind her, holding a piece of paper in a thin hand.

"Of course... Uncle Albus... Professor Dumbledore, er... sir…" Maddie trailed off awkwardly. "Uh… I don't know what I'm supposed to call you now that you're my teacher and all."

"Uncle Albus is fine outside of class," Dumbledore said, blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "Just be sure you address me like everyone else when you're in Transfiguration."

Maddie smiled. "Alright then, Uncle Albus. And I suppose that's my timetable you've got right there."

"Yes. You have until the end of the week to change it should you find any problems with your classes, but I think everything will be to your liking." He patted her on the head and smiled affectionately. "Good luck on your first day. I'll see you in class this afternoon."

"I can't wait," said Maddie honestly. She then began examining the paper that Dumbledore had given her. "Ew… potions first, and no one likes that. Then Care of Magical Creatures… History of Magic, break, lunch, Transfiguration, and... Arithimancy." Her eyes boggled. "What in the bloody hell is that old coot thinking, putting me in Arithimancy?!"

"You gonna be okay, Mads?" asked Ignatius. Maddie blinked at the nickname and glanced at him.

"No, I'm not. I can't possibly take Arithimancy. I'll fail."

"I'm pretty good at that class. I can help you if you need it."

Maddie glanced at him. "Or I could just drop it."

"I'll make it worth your while, I promise-"

"I apologize for cutting in," a smooth voice interrupted, "but I was told to escort Madeline to potions this morning."

Maddie's mouth snapped shut, and she slowly craned her neck to see Tom towering over them. He really was mammoth. Not in the big or beefy way- actually, he would almost qualify as skinny- but he was so tall. He could probably play quidditch without a broom. Maddie just couldn't get over it.

"I can take her," Ignatius said.

"Yeah," Maddie agreed. "Ignatius can take me."

"That really is unnecessary," said the spawn of Satan. He sounded so sweet, so polite, so believable. It was disturbing. "He doesn't have potions, and I wouldn't want him to needlessly show up late for his class."

"But-" started Maddie. Ignatius only smiled and waved off her protest.

"It's alright. Riddle's a good guy," he told her. "Go on. I'll see you in Care of Magical Creatures."

Maddie had to bite her tongue to keep from calling Ignatius every nasty name she could think of. Rather, she graciously accepted Tom's hand when he offered to help her up, and kept as silent as possible as he led her out of the Great Hall. Maddie could feel the eyes on them as they left, everyone staring at the strange new student and the unfortunately handsome Head Boy. It was almost a relief when they finally exited into the corridor.

At least until Tom casually said, "I heard you talking about me this morning."

Maddie cringed.

"Oh. You aren't mad, are you?"

"Not especially," said Tom. He didn't look mad, and there were enough witnesses mulling about... Maddie relaxed. She obviously hadn't made his hit list quite yet.

"Good," she said. "Although I am sorry that you heard me call you a loser ponce."

"You're sorry that I heard you," said Tom dryly, "but not sorry that you said it?"

"I'll apologize for saying it as soon as you quit looking at me like I'm a six-year-old," said Maddie.

"I do not look at you like you're a six-year-old."

"I'm a Dumbledore, remember." She smiled wolfishly. "The family isn't really known for being imperceptive. It's quite obvious that you think I'm an idiot, Tom."

Tom shook his head. "I don't think you're an idiot. I think you're ridiculous." He seemed to consider something and added, "And your insistence upon calling someone you so clearly dislike by their first name is odd. Almost everyone calls me Riddle."

"Calling someone by their last name puts you at a distance before you even know them. I think it's easier to make enemies when you do that."

"You seem rather intent on making me into an enemy right now."

Maddie rolled her eyes and absently patted Tom on the forearm, ignoring the way he flinched away when she did so.

"I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say you'd be a dreadful enemy to have, especially when half the school seems to be in love with you." Tom looked skeptical, and she added, "Really, I'm not trying to get on your bad side, I swear. I can just be stupidly blunt sometimes. If you'd like me to, I can try to censor myself."

"It would only be polite."

"I didn't peg you as the type to care about such trivialities, but very well then. I'm sincerely sorry that I hurt your feelings when I called you a loser ponce, my eyes don't work properly so I'm totally missing the fact that you're smirking like an arse right now, and you were obviously just hinting that I should call you Riddle, so I'll make sure to do that from now on."

Tom snorted.

"I regret saying anything about you belonging in Slytherin yesterday. Only a Gryffindor would be so utterly tactless."

Maddie laughed out loud.

"I'm usually a little better than this," she said honestly. "But I have a condition that makes me nearly unbearable to be around a few days every month, and it's hitting me especially hard today. Forgive me, please." They reached the potions classroom then, and Maddie enthusiastically added, "And we're here! Bye."

Her upcoming change had improved Maddie's hearing just enough that she didn't miss it when Tom muttered, "...just as mad as her foolish uncle."

Maddie allowed herself a small smile. As long as Tom didn't see her as a threat, he wouldn't cause her any harm. Given that she'd probably quit speaking to him entirely as soon as he got his Good Samaritan act out of the way, she didn't see the need to censor herself too strongly around him anyway.

Besides, it was kind of amusing, watching Tom struggle to keep his temper in check.

Looking back over her shoulder, Maddie noticed the Head Boy was still looking at her, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

A shiver ran down her spine, and she swallowed hard.

Okay, maybe it would do her good to be more careful.

But only a little.

...

A/N- Okay, I got a few reviews saying that they want to read more of this, so I'll keep it going for at least a little while and see where it goes. As always, any criticism or critiquing is much appreciated, and thank you all so much for reading and reviewing.

Thanks to: mh21- I'm working on my Marvel story again finally. I've got half a chapter written so far, and even though I'm a little stuck, I'll do my best to get it out ASAP. Thanks for reviewing this, though. Ara95- I'm glad you liked P&P so much, and I hope this lives up to your expectations. Iluvyou95- Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you seem to like the story so far. Amanda- Thanks for the review. Wishing on Fireflies- I hope this will be even a fraction as popular as P&P. Thanks so much for the reviews. Misses Prongs- Thanks for reviewing. :-) If there's anything you're really confused about, just ask in a review and I'll try to clear it up. Ashes- I'm glad you like Maddie so much. Hopefully you liked the Maddie/Tom interaction in this chapter as much as you liked it before. Colette Hyuga- Dumbledore is one of a kind, isn't he? And as for Azaria and Maddie becoming friends, you'll just have to wait and see.

I really don't have much else to say since it's so early in the story... If there's anything that sticks out as being a huge problem, or something that you don't like, please let me know. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and any reviews are much appreciated.

~bballgirl32~