Chapter 2: Twinkly Eyes and Bloody Riddles
When I finally came to, I instantly recognised the white cotton sheets of the bed I inhabited. I had slept on these very same sheets far too many times, and I had promised myself I would keep myself out them. But here I was, yet again, in the Hospital Wing. I was so caught up in chastising myself for ending up here; I hardly registered the man sitting right next to my bed. Albus too many fricking names Dumbledore. His waist length silver hair was auburn now, and it came to just below his shoulders. He still had those same half-moon glasses and those same twinkly blue eyes behind them. I had my suspicions that he laced his lemon drops with pixie dust to get that twinkle. Even now I could see the cogs whirring in his mind, calculating what use I could be of to him and formulating plans to manipulate me into his pawn. If only he knew life wasn't a giant game of chess. Let's just hope my cover story works.
"Ah finally awake I see, I am Professor Dumbledore. You must be Miss...?" he trailed of there, a silent question in his voice.
"Miss Peverell, sir, and I definitely know who you are", I replied, putting just the right amount of awe into my voice and inwardly smirking when his eyes widened in shock and recognition.
"Are you sure my dear? The Peverell line has sadly died out. The last Peverell was Ophelia Peverell and she bore no children", he informed me, attempting to sound upset.
"But she did, sir. She had my mother, but left her in an orphanage when Grindelwald started gaining power. My mother was raised in America and she discovered her heritage when she attended Salem's Institute for Witches. She met my father, got married and had me but then my father was killed by Grindelwald. My mother died soon after", I choked on a sob "and because she never told me who my father was - she was too heartbroken to talk about him you see - I took her maiden name instead. I was raised by a wizarding family who found me wondering through Chudley Alley. They raised me and schooled me but then one day when I came home, they - they were - they were dead!" I let a few tears slide down my face.
"Why did you come here then, why not go somewhere familiar to you?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Well I knew it had to be Grindelwald who did this - who else would do something that horrific? So I packed my things and apparated to Hogsmeade. I knew Grindelwald wouldn't try to hurt me there because it was too close to Hogwarts, were you are. You're the only who Grindelwald fears Professor Dumbledore, and the only one who can help me", I let a few more tear slip down my cheeks before wiping them away.
"Very well, my dear. I shall see Headmaster Dippet about allowing you to attend Hogwarts. You will be in your 7th year, correct?"
"Yes sir.
"Very well. Get some rest. I shall be seeing you again soon Miss Peverell"
"Sir, may I ask who it was that I fell onto when I apparated?"
"Yes, that was Mr Riddle. He's the Head Boy here at Hogwarts. It was nice of him to bring you here", and that he left. But even with those words I noticed how Dumbledore's eyes darkened at Tom's name, probably because he was too intelligent to fall for his manipulations.
The next day I was sitting in a rather comfy leather chair in the headmaster's office, just about to be sorted. The headmaster was an old, balding man who was in my opinion extremely ignorant.
"Now the sorting is nothing to worry about Miss Peverell, you will just need to put on the sorting hat and it will sort you into one of four houses. Gryffindor, the brave, Ravenclaw, the intelligent, Hufflepuff, the hard-working and Slytherin, the cunning. Go on then, no need to be shy! Try it on!" the headmaster urged, much too enthusiastically.
Mentally sighing at the bumbling old man's antics, I picked up the sorting hat and placed it on my head.
Aha what do we have here? A time traveller eh?
Yes, now will you sort me already?!
You're a feisty one. Brave enough for Gryffindor but a sense of self-preservation that those lions don't have. Definitely not Hufflepuff! Whilst you're loyal to your friends, there a darkness in you that won't do well in Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw maybe? There's plenty of intelligence in that pretty little head of yours but you don't thirst for knowledge like that house. And ooh what's this I see -
You're enjoying this aren't you?
Yes I am, you're the most interesting mind I've had in centuries. Now where was I? Oh yes, there's a deep desire for revenge on those who have wronged you, and you're a master manipulator. You would thrive inSLYTHERIN!Maybe you'll even find a certain Riddle you like there
And with that last statement, the Sorting Hat was whipped off my head. Headmaster Dippet looked pleased at my sorting, whilst Dumbledore stood in the corner looking absolutely horrified.
"Well then I'll just send up Mr Riddle to show you to the common room. Such a fine boy, young Riddle", the headmaster said. After a few minutes of Dippet singing Tom's praises, and me speculating as to why the Sorting Hat wanted to play match maker, the door finally opened to reveal Tom Riddle.
He was incredibly handsome, with a sort of regal elegance about him. His hair was dark and wavy, curling slightly at the ends. His eyes were a charcoal green and held sharp intelligence. His beauty had darkness to it though; there was something about him that told you he was dangerous.
"Mr Riddle I'd like to introduce you to Miss Peverell, she will be Slytherin House, please show her to the common room"
And with that I was pushed outside and left in the clutches of Tom Riddle, who was assessing me with those sharp eyes of his.
"So, what it is like here at Hogwarts?" I attempted to make conversation.
"It's fine", was Tom's short reply. He suddenly started walking briskly in what I recognised as the direction to the Slytherin common room. I hurried to keep up with his punishing pace.
"Mr Riddle, would you mind going a little slower, I don't want to overexert myself after just coming out of the Hospital Wing. I do apologize for falling on top of you by the way"
"It's quite alright Miss Peverell", Tom replied as we came to a stop in front of the entrance to the common room. "Salazar", Tom said clearly, before proceeding to walk through the wall. I followed his lead and entered the Snake Pit.