I groaned internally, when I saw who were waiting for me there in the common room. It was as if an entire party was waiting to ambush me. I rolled my eyes at them as they tried to apologize once more to me from earlier, choosing to instead ignore their pleas, before briskly making my way up the stairs that lead to the girls' dormitories.
I had had enough drama for one day, I didn't need more added to the moment, I was here to learn what I am supposed to, not to get myself into trouble.
Lily and Alice , were waiting for me on their beds, mine being in between theirs. I noticed that both were aware of and worried about the situation, that and I probably had some explaining to do. Molly Prewett, had just gotten in, rushing through the door, her blue eyes as wide as saucers, and her fiery red hair wild, probably from the running she did on the way here. She was a year older than us, and was brilliant when it came to Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions. I let out a little giggle at the sight of all their expressions, trying to lighten up the tense atmosphere.
Molly, however, wasn't having any of that; she quickly made her way over to where I was and plopped down in the seat next to me. Not sure if it was for moral support or not; I wondered why as Alice joined Lily on her bed so we were all closer.
"Let me guess. There is a problem forming downstairs as we speak, which includes Sirius Black, James Potter, and Remus Lupin... Arthur Weasley is trying to keep things calm so we don't get points deducted but we probably will because Professor McGonagall and Bettie are on their way here already." I muttered, rolling my eyes at them.
" You know you girls should probably not underestimate her because of her age, she is quite brilliant if I do say so myself." I said, in a bored, uninterested tone, looking out the window towards the gleaming lake under the twilight sky.
"Anna, Sirius is the one with a problem. Peter Pettigrew is down there as well, they're all trying to keep him away from the girls' dormitories. He said something about it being all their fault and how he was going to kill all of them for talking him into that stupid wager. Since he lost the most important thing that mattered to him." Molly rushed, looking straight at me for the rest of the explanation.
I rolled my eyes in response. "Black's always known how to put on the dramatics thickly." I muttered, rolling my eyes.
"What-what wager are they talking about? Annie?" Lily asked, concerned. Though the doubt that was etched on her face made it clear she was unwilling to believe.
Molly nodded in encouragement, her eyes still wide and then understanding flashed in her eyes and her expression filled with rage, making her ivory skin turn a pinkish red color. I sighed, looking down at my hands not wanting to feel what I had felt earlier, the humiliation and hurt, before I gathered enough courage to explain to them what happened.
"During the summer Black and I hung out, we started getting close towards the end of third year. Things changed however, during the summer solstice party he threw this past summer at his house. I caught him with Siomara Maclaven, snogging each other's faces off, practically tearing each other's clothes off; not that there was much to begin with. Anyways, as soon as I saw them, everything clicked into place, I then realized that the conversation I heard between Remus, James, and Black on the last day of school was true." I explained, sniffling as I tried to calm down enough to continue.
I briefly remembered wishing that it was Tom that I was with instead of Sirius whenever we saw each other, causing me to let out a sigh and disappointment to begin to bubble in my chest.
"All they said was that the deal was to get a good shagging but they weren't specific on who in the group they were talking about. I guess, they didn't realize that I knew about their little wager but then I also realized why they all befriended me. This whole time I thought I finally had friends and they were just using me for a stupid bloody wager. Though I understand why they were freaking do it, who would want to befriend a lonely, worthless orphan like me. I guess, it is okay if you three don't want anything to do with me, I'll understand. Molly, you and Arthur are good people, thank you for befriending me when I first got here. You three girls, aside from Tom and a couple of others in Slytherin have been good people to me...and I guess that alright, I really don't need to have friends at the moment..." I finished, grabbing my bag of toiletries, my royal blue and navy blue flowered night dress, quickly making my way to the bathroom to shower.
Once I stood in the shower I felt as the tears from earlier, and all the emotion I felt for the day take it's toll on me. Tears slipped from my eyes mixing with the water, I began feeling lonely for the first time since I got on the train to Hogwarts for the first time.
Though I technically wasn't alone anymore, I thought my biological parents had abandoned me after I turned two, one day in an orphanage, an all-girl orphanage, the nuns helped raise me, I was only three at the time.
I didn't realize how long I had been in the shower until I looked at my now wrinkly fingers. I quickly washed my crimson, honey gold, mahogany brown multi colored long locks. Noticing that they sometimes changed to different colors before turning to wash out the shampoo in my hair, and finish showering everything else. Then exiting into the cool bathroom and patted myself dry and quickly changed into my pajamas and went back to the room and to my bed.
For the next couple of weeks I avoided talking to anyone for any extended period of time. Tom, was the only one I talked to, with the exception to his friends. Bellatrix, being one of them. After realizing Bellatrix was one of the few girls that would talk to me, she quickly explained to me that she could hardly stand Tom, causing us to become fast friends when we laughed at Tom's expense.
Other than speaking with them, I mainly stayed in the library, doing the day's work until I had to go to back to the tower to leave my books. Lilly, Alice and Molly finally cornered me one afternoon, before supper, in our room. I had just put my books down on the night stand when I heard their footsteps make their way into the room.
"Anna? Annamarie." Molly said, waiting for my reaction.
I looked up at her carefully, wondering what they would possibly need to say to me. Not that I had to, I could easily just check into the future but where is the fun in knowing everything? They hadn't bother talking to me when the whole mess with Sirius Black happened, choosing to stay out of the mess instead of choosing sides, which I was sort of glad for in a way.
I wondered what could they possibly want now? I shook my head out of the thoughts, I wouldn't become bitter, not after the love, friendship and compassion they showed me when I first arrived here.
"Did-did you ladies need something-from me?" I asked guarded, as I turning to look at my reflection in the mirror.
"Yes, we did, actually. W-we want to apologize for-for not standing by your side, with this whole Sirius Black debacle." Molly began, looking back at Lilly and Alice, expectantly.
"We are so so so-sorry." Lily said, staring down at her feet, her bottom lip trembling.
I began to feel bad for ignoring them, but I wanted time to myself. The only reason I ever began to talk to Tom again, was because we had been partnered more than once for Potions, sparing in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Divination. I didn't want to talk to him again, but my attempts to ignore him turned out to be futile when our Divination professor informed us what our assignments were- reading each other's futures.
That was the time I saw Tom Marvolo Riddle's entire life for the first time, though some details blurred, other things were clear as crystal. I only told the basics, so it didn't seem like I knew more. Leaving everyone shocked to say the least.
Though these days, as of late I had been getting these vague dreams of Tom, I felt like I knew him my entire life. Like he was so guarded and distant from everyone for a specific reason, like something happened to him to make him this way.
"It's alright. I'm not angry at you, ladies. Any of you. This situation just- just served me to realize something, I don't need problems or want problems. I-I just want to get through school. My parents left me when I turned two, and though I am hoping that they did it to protect me. I am tired of being put down, I-I just want to be happy and complete school." I said, as I focused on finishing re-braiding my hair.
"Besides three of you did try to warn me that I would end up getting hurt with the whole Sirius debacle, I guess-I chose to-I didn't listen. If it hadn't been for my pigheadedness, I wouldn't have gotten hurt." I said, sighing in defeat.
"That we did." Alice chimmed, hoping onto my bed, bouncing twice before she settled on the bed and wrapped a thin arm around my shoulders.
"Look. It was my own stubborn stupidity and my thinking that the rumors aren't true about him, when they obviously are. Sirius Black is a dog, a full one at that, and I don't mean metaphorically, I mean that he is an animagious, and illegal one at that. You ladies don't have to worry, there really isn't anything to forgive you for. I love you three as if you were my sisters. So, don't worry I can't and won't ever stay mad at you for something as meaningless as this." I finished, smiling at them, as I passed them and made my way towards the Great Hall.
I had just gotten to the end of the hall when I heard someone walking behind me, almost as if following me, causing me to slow my pace and slowly turn to see who was behind me. There was Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black walking with Tom towards me. I slowed my pace and waited for them to reach where I stood.
Narcissa with her black and platinum blonde hair, cut into different layers, along with her signature black bangs, which I adored, it was nothing compared to my waist-length mahogany mixed, black, red, and honey gold blonde streaked combination colored hair though. All, if not most, of the Slytherin welcomed me with open arms, including Bellatrix, and the rest of the Blacks. Which surprised more than my friends.
I raised a questioning eyebrow at them as they reached me, waiting for them to speak. "What's going on?" I asked, staring at all their faces.
"Not much. If you can escape your friends for a while, I would like you to meet me in the library, I'll tell you the reason once you get there. If you can't, then I will meet you by the pond tomorrow during lunch time." He said, a small smile playing on his lips, he leaned in a pecked my cheek.
I nodded at him, in response and pecked his cheek too before I went into the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table, which was already occupied by Molly, and a boy from her year, Arthur Weasley, along with a few others scattered around the table. I chose to sit down in the spot next to Molly, flashing her a bright smile.
I smiled at them again, and proceeded to ignore when James, Remus, and Sirius, who once again tried to sit near my friends and me before Lily sat down next to me and proceeded to shoo him and the other three away in the process. Which then were replaced by Alice Blake and Frank Longbottom.
I laughed and then at her smirk amused, she smiled back at me and winked as the headmaster, Armando Dippet, began to make the announcements for the afternoon. I stared at Tom from the Gryffindor table, he smirked and winked at me before he turned to look at the Headmaster.
I noticed at that moment two things:
One, was that Sirius was as red as a blood pop possibly redder.
and
Two, that Tom was grinning at him like a madman, in his seat at the Slytherin table. His friends smirking in the same way as him.
I rolled my eyes at both of them and their childish mannerisms and turned to try to listen to the rest of the announcements that the Headmaster was currently announcing.
"...Furthermore, we all need to prepare, with it being almost the end of the year I need you all to study for finals. Once that is done the end of the year festivities shall commence. Try hard on your mock O.W.L.S and N.E.W.T.S my dear students. I now wish you all the best of luck. You may now begin the feast." He finished, and added in an afterthought.
"Remember not wonder around the corridors after eight p.m." He said after he sat down.
"Eight P.M? Isn't lights out at ten thirty?" I asked confused, Lily and Molly coming close so we could whisper, along with Alice.
"It's only just after five thirty after all. My guess is that he is giving us leisure for the two hours." Alice suggested shrugging her shoulders, as she leaned in from the other side of the table.
I shrugged back in response. "I have to go to the library once I am done eating, I-I have to finish my book report on deadly poisons and their antidotes. The differences, different names they can go by, other possible poisons that can have the similar effect and the preventions, if there are any." I said with a shrug.
"Why? It isn't due until two weeks from now, on a Friday?" Alice asked, raising an eyebrow at me in response.
"I don't like leaving things until last minute, Alice, it's rather annoying and completely unnecessary to do so. Why suffer exhaustion and cramming when I can do those things now and sleep like a baby? Don't you remember that Slughorn has tendencies to change his mind before the due date?" I asked them, digging into my mashed potatoes and gravy, I loved it especially with the boneless drumsticks and buttermilk biscuits and gravy. I was in heaven.
I ate quietly, serving myself seconds, then eating a Pumpkin pasty, and a caramel multicolor changing lollipop. I laughed as I drank half a glass of apple juice looking at the clock. It had been an hour and a half, from the looks of it Tom was still there at the Slytherin table, eating. I smiled to myself, before whipping my mouth in my napkin and standing up from the table.
I suddenly felt my brain begin to buzz again, and a brief image of a younger Tom flashed before my eyes, with a younger looking me sitting next to him.
"You have to eat, Tommy. How are you going to make it through the entire year here if you don't eat at least twice a day?" I asked.
"Eat? Who told you I don't eat? Maybe I just don't like the food that is served right now." He muttered, picking at the chicken leg with his fork.
"Oh, right. I forgot, you don't like delicious food." I muttered back, rolling my eyes at him.
"Shut up." He said, smirking at me.
"Day dreaming of Riddle again?" Torin Potter asked, smirking at me.
"Riddle? What makes you think its Riddle, I'm thinking about? I could be daydreaming of Remus over there." I quipped.
I noticed her begin to cough violently after my remark caught her off guard after having a mouth full of pumpkin juice.
"Woah, Tor, are you alright?" Her brother, James asked, concerned.
"I-I-I'm fine." She rasped, still coughing.
Alice, Molly and Lilly looked at me with a questioning look before turning back to resume their prior conversation with Vi Brown.
"I'll see you girls later, I'm going to study for a bit then go to bed a bit early, now that I think about it, I am starting to feel rather tired." I lied, briskly making my way out of the Great Hall, and making sure no one followed me.
I quickly walked down the corridor, and made my way to the library. I walked towards the herbology section, and grabbed a book that I needed to complete my research on antidotes and the poisons. I was just about to finish writing my report when I heard the chair next to mine side on back. I heard ruffling next to me and a book be placed on the table next to where all my books were.
"What are you doing here, Annie?" a familiar voice asked me.
I looked up to see Newt, a Hufflepuff in our year, standing by the edge of the desk with an armful of variety of creatures care books.
"Oh, uhh Newt. H-how are you? What are you studying there?" I asked eyeing his books.
"It's a combination actually. Dragons, pixies, and nifflers." He said, giving me a broad smile.
I smiled in response and nodded, watching as he nodded too before disappearing again in the direction of where the books on magical beasts and their cares were. I quickly put me head back in the books before me trying to understand the books that laid before me on the desk.
"Anna." Someone spoke from the end of the desk.I looked up to see that it was Tom, he was so close I could feel the warmth of his body radiate from him. I stared at him, my mouth dropping slightly as I stared at him. I shook my head to clear it and continued writing everything down as quickly and neatly as possible. I finished writing my report quickly wiped out my wand and sent it to my room back in the tower on my bedside table.
"Tom, what was so important that you needed me to come here, when you know we can't be seen together." I said, gathering all the books I had used. I noticed he had an invisibility cloak on his lap; stopping me in my tracks to raise an eyebrow at him.
"I want you to be my girlfriend." He said suddenly but froze when he saw my shocked expression.
I snapped out of my shocked state and raised a questioning eyebrow in his direction in response and crossed my arms over my chest before leaning back onto the chair.
"Look, I-I really like being around you, and the time we have been spending with one another has given me a chance to know you, more. I like what I have learned about you. Everything. It seems only right that we be together." He said, looking down at his hands, not wanting to meet my gaze.
"I would like that very much, Tom. But-but how? I mean, don't misunderstand me. I love spending time with you and I love what I have learned about you too. We have so, so much in common, but what will people say about us being together? With you being in Slytherin, and I in Gryffindor, won't that start rumors and such? Rumor has it that it is you are the one causing all the chaos that been happening around here... I don't want you to be disliked b-because of m-me..." I rumbled, sitting in front of him, feeling my lip begin to tremble.
He smiled at me, in response. "That we do, I'd say I understand why you'd feel that way, I honestly could care less what people have to say about us. People are scared of me. I like the feeling when we're together, we have so many things in common. We are destined to be together, call it what ever you want but it feels right. Think about it we are both orphans. We were both abandoned by our parents. We are both trying to make something of ourselves, a name for ourselves, we can do that, together." He said, taking my hand in his, emotions reflecting in his eyes.
I saw and recognized the pain as he spoke, I knew his pain. Only mine was still raw, the scars that were left, aching almost every time I thought about it.
"You are lucky, to at least have an inkling of who they were, or an inkling. From what I can remember, I was handed off like a worthless trinket, left in an all-girl orphanage by both of my parents. I was two going on three, Tom, no one deserves what happened to me to happen to them. All I know is that I am named after my grandmother that is all I know; it is Sophia Annamarie Riel. My name was the only thing that my parents left along with a locket when I was left with the nuns at the orphanage. My guardian is one of the teachers here. I-I don't know what it is to have family, I have friends but barely, the nuns are all I've known. Until recently." I said, looking down at our joined hands. I gathered up the courage for what I was about to tell him next.
"Look I know what and who you are. I also know what you are planning to do two weeks from now, Tom. " I watched him stiffen in his seat.
I could see apprehension begin to appear in his otherwise neutral expression as he listened to what I was trying to say. When I realized that he didn't understand what I was trying to say, I sighed, realizing I was going to have to be straightforward.
"Tom Marv-" I began before he frowned and interrupted.
"Don't-don't use my full name please." He said, still frowning.
"Ugh. Fine." I said, looking at him again before taking a deep breath and beginning again.
"Riddle, please listen to me, don't do it. W-w-we can go somewhere else, we can go to Hogsmeade. Please. I- I just want to be with you, I'll stay with you. I've seen that someone will die though I am not sure who it is yet, as of yet, I am sure that it will unleash a chain of events, one in which you get expelled and the end up dying a worse than horrible death. Please Tom, don't do it. Not-not that day. Not at all. Let me go with you. I'll sacrifice myself, I'll die for that person. Please." I begged, my vision blurring from the tears that formed.
I knew that I had gotten him to at least at least think about my proposition. Almost everyone knew that I was a seer, and great at predicting thing that ended up coming true.
"The prophecy that will be given by Sybil Trelawney in a two years' time has changed." I gasped out, feeling my eyes glaze over as images before me appeared. Tom stiffened, his posture becoming protective in front of mine. I was pulled into a strong prophecy.
The old prophecy:
"The one with power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not..."
The second prophecy:
"He who plays with fire shall get burned... Left will be nothing but betrayal, revenge, and hatred...Blood will spill of those who try to rise against him. Good will always conquer and win, when fighting against evil. None can be saved unless they feel remorse."
I snapped out of it, my eyes wide as saucers, tears forming again. "Tom, only you can change this. Death. Death is the end of this course. If you open that chamber two weeks from tomorrow, blood will be on your hands, innocent people will die. Please believe me, I have never seen something so set in stone. I- I don't want you to die. Please I- I love you. Power and immortality isn't what it is out to be when you'll look like serpent the rest of your life. The more you study and practice the Dark Arts the more you blacken and lose a piece of your soul. Please Tom, please just listen to me." I pleaded, as I got sucked in again, this time into a vision.
Vision:
It was a house, a house in Gordric's Hollow, I recognized it immediately, the Dumbledore family lives here, as does Bathilda Bagshot. A tall, dark cloak-covered figure stood before a house; It seemed like no one was home to the naked eye; I starred as the cloaked- figure approached.
I watched mesmerized as he flicked his wand in the air, blasting the door to pieces.
I recognized the dark figure immediately, Tom, my heart began to race as I saw him walk into the house, the future Potters' house. I recognized this immediately and knew what he was going to do next.
I heard James arguing with Tom, aka Voldemort, as I walked through the door, "Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off-" he said, I watched powerless as my Tom killed James. I could feel my body tremble, blinking didn't help, I was trapped in the vision.
I heard the blast of the nursery door, I knew he had reached Lily and little Harry. My desperation began to claw its way up my chest.
"Harry, you are loved. You are so loved. Harry, Momma loves you. Dada loves you. Harry, be safe. Be strong." She whispered to the little boy in his crib.
"Stand aside... you silly girl ...now..!" He growled at her.
I heard the Killing curse spoken a second later and a scream, then nothing. The baby's cries, as he looked at his unresponsive momma.
Tom, was nowhere to be seen. I felt fear go down my spine as I realized this was his first death.
I gasped as I felt my body sag, feeling all the energy I had drain from my body. I blinked a few times as I tried to recover from the harsh vision, feeling sweat bead down on top of my brow, and fear grip me like a python's strong vice. I trembled in shock and fear, unable to stop myself from doing so.
Tom having touched my hand, stared at me wide-eyed. "I t-thought Sybille could only do that." He gasped, sounding winded.
I felt shocked to realize he had seen what I had just seen, no one has ever been able to do that. Even while holding me up.
I shook my head, "No, I am considered a freak among us, so only few people know...well up until second year... I mean." I whispered.
"Your visions are truer than-than hers?" He asked, carefully. I nodded my head in response, feeling winded again.
"Look there are things that change, Tom. Things that can change. Just like there are things that are so set in stone that they cannot be changed. What you saw when you grabbed me, when you kept me from falling, is a glimpse of a possible future. You decide." I breathed, exasperated, getting ready to say what I needed to say.
"Tom, if you really want me to be with you, then don't do this. Don't do this please. Or else you face not only losing me but your life and mine along with yours." I said, shakenly.
"W-who- who is the person that dies when I open the Chamber of Secrets?" He asked, refusing to let my hand go, realizing he could read my mind.
I looked around noticing that not only were we alone, but he had put an imperturbable charm around us. I sighed in relief, for a second, before trying to look into the near future.
"Myrtle Warren, she is Ravenclaw that is constantly bullied here by students in our year here. She was killed by the Basilisk, when you release it. You commanded it to look at her, you ordered it to kill her. Not only that but other people are also hurt. How could you? Have you thought about all those people and what could possibly happen to them? Their futures? Their families? Their possible significant others? You are playing with fire, Tom, and you are going to get burned. Understand that I am telling you this because I care for you. Opening the Chamber of Secrets is opening things you are not ready for. Things that can and will hurt you and everyone you care about. Immortality isn't everything that it seems, Tom. Opening that chamber is going to be like signing your own death sentence. Remember and think about it." I said, raising my wand and removing the imperturbable charm.
"Anna, you didn't answer my question from earlier." He said, standing with me, following closely behind me, so close I could feel his body heat.
"I'll answer your question tomorrow, by the lake, from the looks of it, tonight we have a lot to think about. Especially you, Tom. Goodnight." I said, giving him a hug and peck on the cheek, before walking out of the library and making my way slowly towards the Gryffindor tower.
Tom's Pov:
There are a lot of things in this world that I've never understood. Emotions, for one, I've seen them weaken even the strongest man drop to their knee when it comes to feeling anything. Emotions, like love and compassion can turn into weakness. The only emotion that I can understand, is anger. That is one that I've felt since I was a mere child. From experience, I know it can help strengthen and give your focus to achieve many things.
I believed that there was wasn't good or bad, light or dark, that is until I met Annamarie Riel. She-she made me question everything that I stood for, made me feel things I didn't know were possible.
I admired her, even though she is a part of the Gryffindor house,. The usual for blood traitors and others alike them; even so she stands out. Her cleverness, her resourcefulness and cunningness almost match and yet can surpass my own. If there was ever anyone that could give me a run for my money it would be her.
We met our first year here, on the train ride here. I was sitting alone in a compartment, preferring it that way. When she knocked and asked to sit with me, because the other compartments were full. I nodded, keeping my eyes on the book I had acquired in Borgin & Burkes. So, imagine my surprise when the train stalled, knocking her right into my lap, and causing her to bonk her head with mine hard.
After that encounter, we were practically joined at the hip. That is until she got sorted into Gryffindor, to my utter disappointment. Why or how that happened is beyond me, everyone knows she has the characteristics of a true Slytherin. Pureblood or not, she's has them. Though I'd prefer it if she was half-blood like me. It'd give us something more to have in common.
That is besides the point now. Even though we had a falling out of sorts, I still consider her one of my few true friends. I always will. I feel as though I've known her for a lifetime, and lately I've been having the weirdest dreams. Its as if a part of my brain is trying to tell me that I've known her for more time than I already have.
Like in a different life or something.
The nagging feeling only seemed to increase after our Divination lesson earlier today, something told me that she was hiding something, something huge enough that it can affect many people beside myself. It annoys me when people think that they can hide things from me. Something was telling me to follow my instincts, and find out what it was that she's keeping from me. That alone was enough to do so, and I'm not going to stop until I find out what she's hiding from me.
Come hell or high water, I will find out what Annamarie Riel is keeping from me. Or my name isn't Tom Riddle.