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I checked my ID and it doesn't say Joanne K. Rowling, so yeah. I don't own.

I just realized that it's Friday 13. Oh my. However. Year Two:


I was beyond nervous as I pushed my cart through the wall at King's Cross to get to Platform 9¾. My parents didn't even accompany me, no magic they said. I sighed at the thought that they didn't get my most essential idea: Magic is might.

I stood and watched. I spotted both Lydia and Olive, but I didn't feel like joining them. I was waiting for someone else. Finally, I spotted Tom in the middle of a Slytherin group. A year ago, I would've rather died but join them, but since Lucretia Black had so easily accepted me, they all seemed to cope.

"Hey there."

Tom's face lightened up and he hugged me. "I missed you!"

"Missed you, too. How are you?"

"Better, now that we're heading back."

"You look like you had a bad summer," stated Malfoy and I looked at him, incredulous. Since when did he care?

"Two months with no magic at all, I feel like a bloody muggle."

They all laughed and I knew I had hit that magical spot to win their sympathy.

"Lorrie? Lorrie, over here!"

I turned around and saw that Lydia and Olive had remarked me. "I gotta go."

My eyes met Tom's and he muttered: "Will you sit with us?"

I nodded without thinking about it twice. Maybe they sorted too soon.


While we watched the first-years being sorted, Lydia and Olive tried to tell me everything they had chatted about in the train.

"Oh, and then we talked about... Lorraine?"

My eyes widened as I woke up from my daydreams. "Sorry, what?"

"Why don't you go and be a Slytherin for good?"

"Olive!"

I managed to smile. "Merlin, I don't want to be a Slytherin! I just needed to catch up with Tom."

"And you didn't need to catch up with us?"

"I have all the time of the world to catch up with you; we are in the same house."

Lydia sighed. "You shouldn't hang out with these people all too much. My mother says they have a bad influence."

I knew exactly what her mother meant. Hanging out with them made you numb for all this pureblood-fanaticism. Though I was far from being obsessed with that as well, I felt how I gradually stopped being bothered by it.

"Rubbish. They don't influence me at all."


We were heading for Herbology; Professor Beery was to teach us about Mandrakes today and we were not too thrilled about it. Herbology was just boring – still we had to be as polite and as committed as always.

Tom had taken my hand. He had a bad day today; the night had been filled with nightmares, though he didn't want to tell me what they were about. He needed me there and that was why I didn't object, although I could already hear the rumours spreading.

"Slughorn wants to hold that meeting tomorrow night."

I frowned "Really? How do you know?" We didn't even have Potions this week up to now, the class was held this afternoon.

He shrugged. "I met him in the dungeons. Head of house and stuff..."

I sighed. I didn't like these meetings, most of them were boring, but it was an honour to be invited and I appreciated that Slughorn didn't reject me because of my parents. "So, I'm gonna keep free."

"Great. I wouldn't want to go alone."

"Alone? You can't even count the Slytherins who join in..."

"Malfoy, Lestrange, Avery..."

"Nott, some of the Blacks – in short, all your friends."

"However, it's better when you come along."

"Sure, I always do."

"Hey there." We were joined by the Slytherins just mentioned. Malfoy's face enlightened by his most charming smile, Avery and Lestrange looked at me likewise. Nott didn't even bother to fake that smile.

"What's up?"

"What should be up?" Tom asked coldly. "Are you all prepared for class?"

"Hardly. And why should we?" answered Malfoy.

"Because Slytherins should make a good impression."

They all seemed to have a bad conscience at once. I couldn't help but admire Tom for how he had them all on toast.

"We gonna be on our best behaviour, don't worry."

Tom just glared at them and they really seemed worried. "Well. Can't change that anymore, can I?"


I sat on the Ravenclaw table, chatting with Lydia and Olive while we were taking supper. Charms was up next after our break and many of the students were still working on the essays that were to hand in today. I had finished mine days ago, with Tom's help as they had already had the topic a few weeks ago.

"So, how was that Slug Club meeting?"

"It's not my fault it's called like that."

"Well, who's is it?"

"Don't know, Slughorn's himself, probably."

Olive scoffed. "No wonder you don't know. You're just in there because you get to work with Riddle in Potions."

Lydia slapped her on the arm, but I just shrugged. "We'll see in the exams." I knew she was jealous – and I knew that I was good, no matter if I worked with Tom or not. Only, when I worked with Tom, we both were perfect.

"How's Riddle these days anyway? I haven't seen you cuddling for long."

"We are not cuddling!"

Lydia giggled. "He's touching you whenever possible."

I didn't bother to explain them that it didn't mean anything. Tom just needed closeness and I just gave him what he wanted. We were friends, bloody hell and nothing more. Nothing had ever happened or would ever happen that would turn out otherwise.

"Will he go home for Christmas?"

I simply shook my head. I had asked him the same question just a few days ago and he had laughed at me. If I really thought that he would voluntarily go back to that damn muggle orphanage? Asked like that, I had to acknowledge my question had been stupid.

"And what about you? I'm so looking forward to see my parents..."

"No, I'm not going home. I would just miss the magic."

"You gonna have to go home, eventually."

"Well, I'm not going if I don't have to."

They both looked at me in surprise. Obviously, they both couldn't get that I wasn't particularly missing my parents. I loved them, deeply, as I loved my siblings but... well, considering my new live, I just couldn't imagine living their live again.

Suddenly, someone put his hand on my shoulder, his thumb softly striking my neck. I turned around to him and smiled.

"Tom! Why don't you have a seat?"

He shot the first-year-girl next to me a look that clearly said: don't mess with me and she moved away immediately. Tom really had this aura.

He slipped in the seat next to me and smiled charmingly at my friends. "Hornby. Lovegood."

"Riddle," Lydia answered coldly. "What do you want?"

"Nothing in particular."

Underneath the table, I took his hand, trying to calm him, even before his anger could build.

"Well, why don't you just get lost?"

"OLIVE!"

He turned his head to me and whispered in my ear. "You know, my housemates are much more tolerant."

I snorted. "That's just because they're whipped by you."

He shrugged, his thumb softly rubbing my hand. "Does the why really matter?"

I glared at him. Never would I admit that in fact, the Slytherins tolerated me much more than the Ravenclaws tolerated Tom. It might be because Tom had told them to, but maybe they just grew to accept me. My parents might be blood-traitors, but still we were an old, pureblood family and I obviously wasn't "one of those unworthy muggle-friends".

"It does. Let's get going, I need to pick my things from the common room."

"I'll accompany you."

We got up, leaving Lydia and Olive alone, who probably started spreading their pointless rumours again.


"Do you already know which courses you'll add?"

I nodded.

"You gonna tell me?"

I smirked at him. "Maybe. If you tell me your choice first."

"Care for Magical Creatures and Arithmancy. Now, tell me."

I raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you interested in magical creatures?"

"Tell me."

I sighed. He could be so insistent. "I'm taking Study of Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies."

"Muggle Studies?" he repeated. "You're not serious."

"I am very serious. I've lived like a muggle for years, I'm predestined to get an O and that's what I want."

He let himself drop in the chair across from me and I returned my look to the book I was just reading. Potions homework sucked.

"You are a pureblood. It's simply wrong to..."

"Cut the crap, Tom. You'll have to work hard to get your grades in Arithmancy, and I won't have to do anything to get them. Tell me that's wrong."

I could feel him still staring at me. "What?"

"I don't get you at all. When my friends are around..."

"Your friends, Tom? I don't know who you're talking about."

My eyes met his and I remarked he was glaring at me.

"Are you such a hypocrite? Do you believe in pureblood superiority, or not?"

"No, I don't."

He got up and shook his head. "You really are hypocritical."

"I'm trying not to get you into trouble with your... friends, as you call them. And right, I'm ready to say practically everything. You of all people shouldn't tell me about being hypocritical. Being a half-blood and all."

"Screw you."

"Yeah, whatever."

He turned around and left. I stared at the closed door behind him for a while and then went back to my reading.


"I'm sorry."

"Of course."

He put his hands on both sides of my head and leaned in a bit. "I shouldn't have said it."

"Right. But I shouldn't have stressed the topic again."

He frowned. "So, you're not mad?"

"We had a little spat, I'm over it already."

He seemed really relieved as I said that. "So, we're still friends..."

"Best friends, you know that."

He nodded and backed off.

"You can touch me, you know, I won't bite."

"People are talking."

"Since when do you care?"

"I... I just don't want to give anyone a wrong impression."

"If you mean me with anyone, then don't worry: I don't have any wrong impressions."

He turned away and I followed him.

"You shouldn't tell my friends that you chose Muggle Studies."

"I can defend myself. You know, it's hilarious to see how these stupid, worthless muggles cope without magic."

He glared at me. "Fun for an hour, not for several years."

"Please let me decide for myself, alright?"

He sighed. "Why can't you be sensible?"

"I'm perfectly sensible, don't bother yourself."

"Lorraine? We found a compartment..."

"Oh," I muttered as I looked at Lydia. "Well, I already said I would sit with Tom."

Lydia stared at me and then she whispered: "With the Slytherfreaks? Seriously?"

"This is not about the Slytherins, this is about Tom."

"He is one of them, after all."

I glared at her. "You sound like Olive."

He shook her head in disbelief and turned around. I stared after her as Tom put his hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, love, she'll come around."

I turned around and shrugged his hand off as I moved towards the train. "Honestly. I don't really care."


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