A/N: Still tweaking :D

Chapter 16

Riddled!

1943, September 1

"Slytherin?"

"Yeah, one of us ought to be in Slytherin. You know, it would make it easier to get close to him."

"Yeah! But Mia! It's Slytherin, for Merlin's sake!"

"Oi! Did you forget? I'm the heir of Salazar Slytherin! Don't spite the Slytherin house in front of me!"

"Ah! Spoken like a true Slytherin! But you will have to curb that Slytherin love of yours while there, cos l'm gonna take up that offer of the sorting hat and join Slytherin this time around." He smirked slightly and said, "Heir or no heir I just don't trust those snakes to be around you."

"Ha spoken like a man of the 40s! But I've got absolutely noooo problem whatsoever. "

The Hogwarts Express rattled on, about an hour away from its destination. These were the first moments of real silence between the two since they arrived back in 1941. They were always busy planning their cover story, making and connecting details to support their backgrounds and coming up with some sort of a plan to achieve their ultimate goal. They had decided their names to be Amelia Sparks for Hermione and Harris Bolt for Harry. The naming session was especially fun, and they sure had a laugh calling each other their undercover names. When they finally agreed upon a cover story, they moved on to their target, Tom Marvolo Riddle. But that's where they seemed lost, what would Tom Riddle be like? What is the best way to approach him? They had no clue. They had discussed loads of strategies, including the imperius curse, but nothing seemed feasible. They were truly at a loss.

Harry glanced at Hermione. She was looking out the window.

"Even now she has her Occlumency shield on!"

"But you don't!"

"Oh, Damn! You know you're too good at this mind reading stuff. It would be better if you were close to him! That way, you could read his mind all the time!"

"You know I can only read yours…"

"Yeah. For now. Anyway, I was joking. But, the Slytherin idea isn't bad! I just did not want for us to be separated, that's all."

"It's Hogwarts, Harry! There's no need to worry! Besides, we'll always be connected in here."

"You think we can communicate over long distances?"

"Yeah, from the Dungeons to the Gryffindor tower will be doable, although, with more practice we might be able to increase the range… Sure you wanna go into Slytherin?"

"Yes, it'll be another adventure!" Harry smirked.

They silently put on their robes as they neared the castle, deep in thought as they gazed outside the darkened windows. Both filled with apprehension and excitement. The halt of the train pulled them out of their thought.

"This is it Mia, our very new adventure".

The castle loomed in front of them. They were alone in the Thestral drawn carriage, not wanting to meet anyone so soon. Their reality of being in a familiar yet, strange Hogsmeade had clicked in to place when they missed Hagrid's call. It was the familiar sight of the castle that soothed their frayed nerves.

"Home" Harry sighed.

"Do we make a grand entrance or do we just go in with the first years?"

"I've had my share of fame, thank you very much. Let's go in with the first years"

"Thank God we are not repeating fifth year! I can't imagine doing it again"

"Speak for yourself, I wanted a year off."

"Lazy bones"

"Know-it-all"

"Thank you!"

"No one but you will take it as a compliment!"

"We are here"

"Ya, lets go meet Prof. Dumbledore and get the sorting done and over with."

"I can't imagine fooling him."

"We already did. Besides what else can he do? At worst, we will be admitted to St Mungos's, at best we will gain an ally."

"Nicely put, Mr. Potter."

"That's Mr. Bolt for you."

The Great Hall looked the same as ever. Prof. Dumbledore had, as usual, that eerie calmness about him. Thankfully, there were no snags. They spied the long line of little firsties and entered behind them. People craned their necks, surprised at the extra-huge pair of first years. The din suddenly was silenced and then redoubled.

"We were better off with that grand entrance." Harry groaned.

"Pin it!"

"Let the sorting begin."

Dippet was looking curiously blank. They missed Dumbledore's twinkles. The sorting hat, as shabby as ever, quickly sorted the first years. It was their turn.

"Ah…. Mr Potter! You are decades early I see…"

"It's Mr. Bolt!"

"Of course, well, Mr. Bolt… Where do I put you?"

"Slytherin….Slytherin….Slytherin"

"Changed your tune, I see…. Well, then Slytherin it is… SLYTHERIN"

Hermione had a sudden impulse to jump up and down. They didn't doubt the sorting hat's willingness to help, yet it was relief to know they were right. Hermione had no problem in being sorted. Even being the heir to two very powerful houses hadn't diminished the Gryffindor in her. Smiling happily at Harry, she walked towards her housemates who were cheering quite loudly.

Forgetting the fact that Harry was sitting at another table, Hermione as usual walked towards the red-headed Weasley and Messy haired Potter. Only after getting seated did she realize her mistake. The boys were obviously flustered and didn't know how to approach the nerd-girl. Hermione decided to take the first step.

"Hi….I'm Amelia Sparks. Nice to meet you."

"Oh hello…. I'm Harold Potter and this is Septimus Weasley."

"Are you both sixth years too?"

"You are a sixth year?!"

"Yes of course….. You can't possibly imagine any little firsties being this big…." Hermione said with a burst of laughter and that seemed to break the tension.

"Ye… You are right. Those little bug…" Septimus suddenly stopped and winced. Hermione hid a smile, he was so similar to Ron! Harold suddenly changed the subject. He leaned towards her and excitedly asked.

"Who was the boy with you? He looked awfully familiar."

That might be because you see it in the mirror every day. Hermione thought fondly.

"I don't think so. I'm a muggle born and he is a half blood. Our families are very close. Our parents wanted us to be safe from Griendelwald's regime. They made us come here and went into hiding themselves."

"You are friends with a Slytherin?!" Septimus sputtered. Hermione laughed.

"He is not so bad and he was my friend way before he was a Slytherin! Don't you have friends in Slytherin?" She asked innocently.

"Friends? With Slytherin? Never! Though Riddle is not so bad." Hermione stiffened.

"Riddle?" She asked cautiously.

"Oh…You will like him. He is delicious!" A new voice answered Hermione, promptly followed by a high pitched giggle.

"Ursula….!" Harold groaned. "Amelia, meet the Secretary of Riddle Fan Club. Ursula Brown."

"Hi." Instantly feeling an intense dislike towards this girl, Hermione smiled tremulously.

Suddenly she was swamped with introductions. There was Neville's Grandma without the vultures hat, four other Weasley's in each year, An Abbot, two unfamiliar names and even an Indian girl and boy, whose names she had trouble pronouncing right, even after repeated attempts. They were Ar..jun and Anj..ana, or something close to that. "In due time…" she thought. Everyone wanted to know her story and she was happy to get that out of way. Soon they began to give her space to have her food.

Psst! Harry?

Mia! The relief was evident in his voice.

How's Slytherin? Met him yet?

Turn around and look. The one sitting at the head of the table.

Hermione turned and looked. She had to stop her jaw from dropping! No one was supposed to be this….handsome. Somehow the adjective felt inadequate. He was impossibly handsome. But that was not what captured her attention. His eyes, she couldn't identify the colour except that it was dark, and intense that seemed to look through you and yet seemed….kind?

Odd.

Hey! Don't go all moony-eyed over the weirdo please…. He is the snake-face!

Hermione winced remembering the Voldemort of their time.

Did you two talk?

See for yourself.

Harry proceeded to show her what happened to him after they were sorted.

Oh God oh God…. I'm in freaking Slytherin! I'm green! Ugh! I hate green….and silver and dungeons…..especially dungeons. Oh no Why the heck did I allow Mia to convince me?

"Hey there Bolt…. Come and have a seat." A black haired boy beckoned him. Harry walked towards him and sat on his left. There was a sallow faced girl with a hooked nose sitting on his right. Opposite to him sat without doubt a Malfoy. No one can have both blonde hair and arrogance oozing from every pore.

"So…you are new!" The black haired boy said. The girl next to him coughed something that sounded suspiciously like 'duh!'

"Oi Prince…. You got a problem?"

Prince? As in Snape's ancestor?! Oh jolly!

"Your very presence is a problem to me Black…. Not that you don't know it."

"Black?" Harry asked dumbfounded.

"Alpherd Black" The boy replied beaming at him.

"Of course I'm invisible to you." Prince said sullenly.

"Oh no…. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." Harry quickly said. Prince scrutinized him intently, as though testing his truthfulness. Her black eyes reminded Harry eerily of Snape, but he didn't blink. Black was looking flabbergasted at this interaction. Suddenly Prince stuck out her hand.

"Eileen Prince."

Oh not ancestor, but his mother! Harry thought, remembering what Mia had garnered from her sessions with Snape, all the while shaking her hand.

"Harris Bolt."

Someone cleared his throat and suddenly every conversation around him was hushed. Harry turned and looked at the perpetrator. The culprit was a boy sitting at the head of the table. Harry was a boy but he could still tell the other boy was strikingly handsome. He had this aura of command around him. And the most arresting feature on his face was his eyes. It was the colour of stormy sea, a grey that at times seemed blue. But the colour, even though unique, was not what stood out. The eyes seemed to look in to you, see all your fears and follies, and whisper 'I understand'. And then he smiled…...it was as if everything in the world would be alright. Every girl in the vicinity was looking at him with adoration, every boy, reverence. Not one of them seemed immune to him.

Now who is mooning? Mia's sarcastic voice sounded in his mind.

Shut up and Watch! And for the record, I. Was. Not. Mooning.

Oh yes you were…. You sounded like a swooning girl!

I did not!

Ha….You wish!

Get lost Frizzy hair. I won't show you the rest.

What? No!

Who told you to question my masculinity? I'm an Alpha male!

Hehe… You read too much werewolf stories.

I do not!

Come on….Don't be such a baby.

Take it back.

Alright alright….you were just….deferential.

Humph!

What?

Nothing. Just…..watch!

"Hello I'm Tom Riddle. I'm the 6th year prefect. Eileen here is my partner. If you need any help…and I do mean any….don't hesitate to ask."

"Ok."

Tom smiled at him once again and went back to his eating. Alpherd nudged him and pointed to his mouth. Harry closed his mouth with an audible click. Eileen looked at him pityingly and shook her head.

"Don't worry. I was like that too and I was a first year!" Alpherd said consolingly.

That's it? Hermione sounded suspiciously like she was hiding her laughter.

Ya.

Hmm. Not what we expected.

Definitely not. Harry agreed.

A/N : We know this took a bit longer, sorry! So, how's our Riddle? What about the other past characters? We do believe that your suggestions will help us improve our storyline! So, keep reviewing! Thank you tchizek, Lorna Potter and the guest (ooh, who might that be :P ) for reviewing the last chapter! And, We've changed the title of the story, to be a bit more… well, mature :P. How do you like it? Opinions, opinions! :D