Chapter two- A healthy does of ridicule.
Waking up the next morning after her first restless sleep in Hogwarts, Alice stares up at the ceiling letting a loud yawn escape. Is hoping that today, the novelty of having a new girl in seventh year will have worn off to much to ask for? The answer is an obvious yes, it is too much to ask for. Hearing muffled voices from outside the drapes Alice sits up and pulls them aside hastily.
"Good morning sunshine!"Ruby sings and from the corner of her eye Alice can see Sam rolling her eyes, and mumbles a groggy, incoherent reply.
"There's a piece of parchment on top of your trunk," she points, "I'm guessing it's your new timetable,"
Striding over to it she finds that Ruby is right, a small folded piece of parchment has settled itself on top of her trunk. Picking it up and sitting down, she unfolds it gently almost worried at what she'll see written on the inside.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Divination, Ancient Ruines, Potions, History of Magic and Transfiguration," she mumbles allowing a full blown groan to escape. Never in her life has she had to study that many subject, and at such an advanced level. Not that she won't be good at it, she's an Abel, and talent comes naturally.
"Oh my," Sam squeals, "we're in the same classes practically!"
"That means you'll be in the same classes as Tom Riddle," Ruby adds with a hint of malice.
"Tom Riddle?"
"He's a Slytherin, and when you see him your legs will literally turn to jelly," Alice turns to give Sam a questioning look and her only reply is a roll of her eyes before she march's out.

"First class Defence Against the Dark Arts," Alice mutters heading down to the first floor. Of course most of the seventh years are put in a class together due to their small majority. Stopping outside the classroom she releases a long sigh, and then pushes open the door. The classroom is plain in comparison to what she had thought it would be like. A few shelves lining the walls with ancient looking books, and a desk situated at the front of the class. Scanning the classroom she notice's that most people have already sat down, but luckily Sam had saved her a seat near the middle.
"Finally I thought you'd got lost,"
"Sorry, I was preparing myself," she smiles sitting down and chucking her bag under the desk. Scanning the classroom she notices the different coloured robes all situated in small segregated groups. The small group of Slytherins at the front, which some of them don't seem to be too happy about by the looks on their faces. The Ravenclaws sitting behind them in a larger group, having what looks to be a heated debate. The Hufflepuffs are a little more spread out, some in the front row and some in the back. Allowing her eyes to survey the class one more time her eyes suddenly settle on a Slytherin in the front row. His neat hair appears almost black in the dim light, and for some reason it's as if he has a different energy around him. As if he's more supreme than his fellow housemates. She continues to stare unaware of the smirk slowly forming on his face.
"See you've spotted Riddle," is all Sam manages to say before the door barges open, and in walks the professor. A tall, bulky looking man with a balding patch on the crown of his head.
"Welcome seventh years, to what will soon become the hardest and most daring class on your curriculum," his words obviously attempting to strike fear in the hearts of his students, and some of the Hufflepuffs cringe in their seats.
"Today class we will be duelling," he grins, "see if any of you have a fighting spirit,"
In no time the class has been split into teams of two, and one by one each group rises to the front to perform their duel. Two Hufflepuffs manage to knock each other out simultaneously with a leg-locking curse. A few Ravenclaws appear to be a little more advanced and after a few missed curses the taller male manages to disarm the other and hits him with a binding body curse.
Soon enough Tom Riddle saunters up to the front to face his partner, none other than Lestrange. Deep down he feels pleased that he'll be able cause un-necessary pain to the silly slob who doesn't know when to keep his trap shut.
"Expelliarmus," Lestrange mumbles but Riddle detracts the spell with a twitch of his wand and within seconds has cast the same spell non-verbally grabbing hold of his partner's wand smugly. They settle back in their seats, Riddle convinced that nobody will be able to beat him.
Next Alice heads up to the front after being paired with a Ravenclaw male, and quite a smart one as well by the looks of the books piled up on the top of his desk. The minute they begin the geeky looking boy starts to throw spell after spell at her only for them to be redirected by a mere flicker of her wand. Minutes pass and soon she can begin to see the cracks in his composure. Sure enough he falters giving her just enough time to shout "Expelliarmus," deciding not to do anything too nasty.
In no time it's only two people left standing, Tom and Alice, much to Tom's dismay. He had known the moment he saw her defeat the Ravenclaw that she would be the last to stand against him. She had played it smart deflecting the spells until they began to show weaknesses, but her little plan would not work on him.
Standing up from her seat Alice cautiously walks up to the front aware that this will be the first time she and Tom come face to face. In a duel, brilliant. If she had been wary a few seconds ago that feeling quickly disperses as she see's the sly smirk planted on Tom Riddles smug face as he stands across from her.
"Smart moves Abel," he growls, "I hope you know those tricks won't work on me,"
"Oh don't worry, I have a whole bunch of spells I'd be happy to use on you, most of the involve pain," she hiss's in reply, gaining a scowl from the professor.
"Expelliarmus," she yells but he quickly deflects it with his shield. A few minutes pass and after a few half hearted spells on his part which she quickly deflects, she begins to realise that he's up to something. Then it clicks. He can do non-verbal spells.
Tom can't help but allow the smug expression on his face to grow as he see's her falter, how he'd love to read her mind right now and extract all the useful information so he could destroy her. Sending a half hearted binding spell across the room at her he flinches as a large grin appears on her face. Is she mocking him? In the tiny amount of time it takes him to falter in suprise a silent spell comes bounding towards him, hitting him square in the chest. It's only when he is dangling upside down in the air by one leg that he realises it's a levicorpus, and that she has the ability to cast non-verbal spells as well.

"Very well done Alice," the professor smiles casting the reverse spell and letting Tom Riddle down to face the girl who just made him look like a fool in front of their entire class. He watches as she puts her wand back in her pocket and shoots a satisfied smirk in his direction, then turns to look at the rest of the class. Half of them are attempting to stifle laughter and the rest are sitting as if they are suffering from post traumatic stress. How dare a girl like Alice Abel, a half-blood, attempt to ruin his reputation with silly little spells? If ever their was a time to pay, Riddle is sure that Alice's will be sooner than she thinks.

"Way to not draw attention to yourself," Sam grins as Alice collects her stuff as the professor announces end of class.
"I'm sorry but from the looks of it he needed a reality check,"
"Yes, but you do know this is going to spread,"
"and?"
"Well let's just say, Tom Riddle doesn't take embarrassment lightly," and with that, Sam will never know just how right she is.

After lunch -which Alice and Tom both refused to attend, unbeknown to each other -came Divination on the timetable. Clambering the stairs to the North Tower Alice makes a mental note to look for a spell to make climbing stairs a lot easier. Barging into the classroom she groans loudly realising that she's five minutes late and everyone is already seated.
"Ah Alice, so nice of you to join us," a raspy voice speaks from somewhere in the corner. Looking around Alice spots an empty seat near the front, bounding over to it without looking around at who happens to be seated next to it.
"Yes, so nice of you to join us," a mocking voice whispers as she flings herself down on to the soft squishy armchair. Without turning around she can already recognise Tom Riddles smooth voice.
"Take a hike Riddle,"
"Gladly," with that they both turn around glaring at each other.
"Today pupils we will be studying the fascinating art of reading tea leaves," from the corner the tall thin woman walks into the light, her star and moon glass's reflecting the sun which seems to be pouring in from the round windows, "please do begin, I feel great energy in this room,"
Rolling her eyes Alice picks up the cup in front squinting in at the swirling tea. Divination has never really been her thing.
"You're meant to drink the tea," Riddle tuts peering at her with his dense blue eyes.
"I knew that," she snaps in reply, lifting the cup to her lips and sipping thoughtfully. After a good few minutes of thinking about not a lot she turns to stare at Riddle who seems to be rapidly writing something down in his note book.
"Got an infatuation problem Abel?" he smirks glancing at her curious expression.
"No," she scoffs, "I'm just wondering what I should be more surprised at, the fact that you seem to be lacking when it comes beating a girl in a duel, or the fact you seem to be at the top of your Divination class," with a satisfied smirk in his direction she turns back around to glance into her cup. Seeing a small swirly piece of mush right next to a long trail she racks through her brain for something that could possibly look anything like it.
"Snake," she mutters jotting it down on her notepad and continuing to examine the tea leaves.
After a good half an hour has passed the wacky looking teacher finally stands up clapping her hands.
"Now class lets go around and see what we managed to find, and who was able to extract the most from their tea leaves," she almost sings, "Tom?"
Leaning back in her seat Alice folds her arms waiting for the Prince of Slytherin to speak.
"I saw what appeared to be a clock, time will be a big part in my future," he mumbles keeping his stone face emotionless.
"Very good, ten points to Slytherin!" she laughs, and then her gaze settles on Alice, unfortunately.
"Erm, well I saw a snake, I think," she mutters looking into the teachers wide eyes, "maybe it's because I'm sitting next to a leery eyed slimy Slytherin," most of the class attempt to cover their giggles, but if she was to look at her left side she would see Tom Riddle's eyes flash with anger. The teacher, obviously not amused gives her a cold glacier gaze before moving on.

"Alice Abel I need to talk to you," Ruby squeaks settling herself down opposite her at the dinner table as Alice attempts to wolf down the remainder of her pie before heading to the library.
"What is this I've been hearing about you and Tom Riddle?" Alice peers up from her plate and rolls her eyes, not bothering to grace her with an answer.
"Apparently you've been really nasty too him,"
"Nasty to him?" she yells slamming her fork down on the table causing a string of peas to go flying of her plate in various directions, hitting a first year square in the eye.
"Yes, calling him names, using mean spells to embarrass him, half the girls in the school are already plotting against you,"
"Oh come on, it was a duel, it was the first spell that came to mind!"
"Yes well a simple disarming spell would have sufficed,"
Alice stares dumbfounded, "Are you annoyed at me?"
"No, just try to be nicer in future,"
Rolling her eyes once again Alice stands up grabbing her bag and heading up to the forth floor, and to the library. Tom Riddle deserved everything he got. From the looks off it he spends far too long with his finger up his ass. From Alice's point of view, she's only helping him dislodge it, for his own safety of course.
Walking into the library she stops in awe, looking up at the rows upon rows of books. Always being a secret geek nobody has ever known about Alice's love for books and knowledge, preferring to coop herself up in bed late at night or sneak of to the dark corners of library's to settle down and read. Dropping her bag on an empty table she strolls through the isle's using her finger to scrape gently along all the hard backs, skimming the titles as she goes. This has been her first chance to look for information on how to get her memory back. All she knows is that every since her parents have died something has been missing, something that she can't quite grasp. But maybe with the help of some books she'll be able to find something that will help her gain the information she needs. After delving deep into the dark corners of the library she finally comes across a small section all about the brain and memory. Grinning gleefully she reaches up to grab one of the books only for another hand to reach up and snatch it away.
"Manipulation of the Brain volume 1," Tom Riddle reads in his smooth, even voice as she turns around to glare at him.
"Give me that back Riddle or so help me I'll..." she begins only to be swiftly cut of by the noise of him slamming the book shut.
"Or you'll what, curse me again for one of your stupid, irritating little pranks," he steps closer to her, his voice only a whisper but the venom in it seething through the air.
"It was the first thing that came to mind at short notice," she cringes attempting to step back but only ending up flush with the wall.
"That's not really a good enough excuse Abel," by now he's so close to her she can feel his breath on her neck.
"Maybe in future you'll be a little more careful," his voice is nothing but a purr now, as he attempts to lull her into apologizing to him, or putting fear into her heart, one of the two. However Alice takes a daring step closer to him so their body's are almost pushed up against each others, her sweet breathe blowing lightly on his ear.
"You don't scare me Tom Riddle," and with that she grabs the book from his hand and swiftly exits to the front of the library, retrieving her bag and storming out. Leaving Tom Riddle in what can only be described as a state of awe.