The passageway was dark, and Norah couldn't see. Through the darkness she stumbled along, not knowing where she was or why she was there. It took her awhile in the dark to realize she was at Hogwarts. She could sense where to turn a corner, when to open a door, yet she didn't know why she was walking in the first place. Where could she possibly be going to in this complete darkness?

Norah rounded an unseen corner and a bright light hit her, illuminating all that was in her path. Ahead she perceived a figure who she believed to be a boy around her age. She drew closer and as she did the figure stirred. As Norah came within a foot of the still figure he turned to face her. Tom Riddle wore a blank expression, but upon seeing Norah standing there in this warmly lit corridor, his face brightened and a gentle smile creased his flawless visage.

"Norah," he murmured as he took a step closer. His elongated silhouette followed him on the stone wall; Norah watched as his shadow hand and real one moved in sync with each other, reaching toward her, both sets of fingers curling into her hair and onto her skin. The touch was barely a whisper of contact and then all vanished.

Norah's head snapped up from her pillow a little too quickly. Her hand clamped to her forehead as a wave of lightheadedness overcame her. She realized she was covered in sweat; her hair was damp and her face wet.

Pulling her bed curtains open, she stood silently and stretched, causing her sweat soaked nightgown to peel from her back. This feeling of wetness was all over her and caused her to shiver as a cold draft came through the open dormitory window. Norah crossed the small room and closed the window, though her goose bumps lingered on her skin.

Though it wasn't a nightmare, the dream troubled her. Why was I dreaming about Tom? she thought. The ominous feeling of being in that corridor with him, the strange way he touched her, the warm tone of his voice…all these things haunted her.

But she couldn't let this upset her. Just a dream, she told herself.

"Norah, what's wrong?" Miri asked as Norah sat herself down at the table later that morning.

Norah's hair was hastily combed through and her eyes were bloodshot. She had been unable to fall back asleep and had been up for hours roaming the empty halls until it was time for breakfast.

"Couldn't…sleep," Norah yawned. She grabbed a piece of toast and nibbled at it, her mind still preoccupied with that confusing dream.

"Are you sure you're okay? I heard you talking in your sleep last night," Miri said, looking at Norah as if she was unsure if she was truly there.

Norah stared at Miri, bewildered. She never talked in her sleep…ever. "Are you serious, Miri?"

"Yes. You said something about darkness, you asked where he was (whoever he is)…then you said 'Tom, Tom I see you.' " Miri looked across the table, her brow furrowed, scrutinizing Norah's face for some understanding. "What did you dream about last night Norah?"

"Um, I can't remember. I don't think I had a dream last night," she lied badly. Norah was never good at lying.

Miri's eyebrows arched; she knew Norah was being untruthful. She always knew. "Norah, just tell me your dream."

Norah sighed. There was no escaping an explanation. "Well, you see--,"

Just then Norah noticed a familiar, yet unwelcome face staring at her from across the hall. Tom held her gaze for a moment then nodded toward the exit from the hall and left his seat at the Slytherin table.

"Norah? Your dream?"

Norah looked back to Miri's expectant face. "Sorry, I'll tell you later. I, uh, have to have a word with someone. Excuse me, Miri."

She had to admit it; she was grateful to Tom for sparing her the humiliation of admitting she'd dreamed about him. Norah stood from the table and left the hall. Tom was leaning on the banister again, mimicking his position from last night.

"What is it Riddle?" In all the obsession over her dream, Norah had forgotten how angry she had been at him last night. She had expected that resentment to become rekindled when she stared into his haughty eyes.

But Tom did not have a superior look about him as he looked at Norah. His eyes were softened, not quite like in Norah's dream; there was no warmth, but they were not teasing and stony.

"Norah, I would like to apologize for my foolish behavior last night on patrol. I was out of line, and I should not have said such offensive absurdities. Do you accept my apology?"

Norah was taken aback. She searched hisface for a bluff. His features were genuinely sincere; a small smile played on his lips…a smile, not a sneer.

"I…um, yes Tom. I accept your apology."

"Thank you," he smiled again and extended his hand toward her. Norah took a small step back; this movement was so like the one he made in the dream.

Tom frowned and pulled back his hand. Norah realized he had wanted to shake her hand. "Well, Norah, I'll see you at patrol tomorrow."

He strode away quickly in the direction of the dungeons, leaving Norah standing at the base of the stairs feeling like a complete idiot.

Tom Riddle

The green hue of the Slytherin common room was strangely unwelcome to Tom as he entered through the hidden stone passageway. Never had he wanted to be in any other House, but right now he wished there was some other place to go to. He longed to leave this dungeon and explore the grounds, yet his feet had carried him here to this dark, damp underground haunt.

Tom dragged himself forward, feeling zombie-like and unaware of other people as he sat in an empty armchair and stared into the crackling flames that twisted in the fireplace. His mind was preoccupied with a more interesting someone. Norah had been his competition, still was competition. She was a Gryffindor, a half-blood, all the things that were frowned upon by his fellow Slytherins as well as himself.

But you're blood isn't even pure, he thought. It was true; Tom's father had been a Muggle, his mother a witch. This left him in the same boat as Norah on yet another level. To go along with others in degrading half-bloods would make him a hypocrite.

He twisted Marvolo's ring around his finger in frustration. How was this possible? How could he become so interested in his rival. It was foolish, he knew, to deny his longing to know her better. Tom knew better than to suppress feelings…he knew the outcome too well.

He was so deeply enthralled in his thoughts that he didn't hear Marius Lestrange sit down in the chair beside him.

"Tom," Marius said. "What are you doing?"

Tom sighed. Marius was the closest thing he had to a friend, though he never introduced him to others as a friend. He was more of a follower; he had no views of his own and relied on others to make his decisions for him.

"Thinking," was all Tom said, not looking away from the swirling oranges and reds.

Marius knew enough from past experience not to bother Tom if he didn't wish to be bothered, which he rarely did. After a minute of hoping to get more of a reply, he left Tom at the fireplace to go to the Owlry and send a letter.

Tom was glad for the solitude. He was more comfortable by himself…and yet he found himself wanting the company of one person in particular. After thinking things through, Tom came to believe this longing to know Norah was because of her assertiveness. No one had ever stood up to him like she did, no peer had ever questioned him as she had. There was also the matter of her knowledge of his private actions. How could she have found out about his moniker?

His fingers twitched and tapped on the dark green leather of the armchair; he felt antsy, he needed to move around. Tom rose from his placement in front of the fire and exited the common room.

The sky outside was clear, not a cloud in sight: a perfect early-fall sky. As Tom strolled the banks of the lake he thought more about Norah, his newly acquired obsession.

Gentle waves lapped onto the shore, and the sound calmed Tom. He walked in time to the soft whooshing of the water. Whoosh, step step. Whoosh, step step.

Never had a person occupied his thoughts as much as Norah did now. In only two days she had confused him beyond comprehension. Getting to understand her was a top priority now.