After that first day, Tom and I became unexpectedly close, so much so that all the other orphans ignored me completely or hid when they saw me. If Tom and I were close, there had to be something wrong with me, too.
Three years later, a man with Auburn hair and a beard arrived during the summer after Tom and I turned eleven. He went to see Tom, but then he also came to see me.
"Miss Montgomery, it's a pleasure to meet you," the man said, "My name is Albus Dumbledore, and I work at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as the transfiguration Professor. I'm here to tell you you will attend my school in the fall. I will take you and Mr. Riddle to purchase your supplies to prepare you for the school year. Do you have any questions, Miss Montgomery?" I had tried not to grimace at the use of my last name, which I didn't even know until this point, but I think he understood that something was off.
"Why would I have questions?" I asked, "I already know most of your answers."
"My..." Professor Dumbledore said, "And how would you know that, Miss Montgomery?" I tried my best not to smile this time. Tom had been trying to teach me not to show emotions on my face, but it's always been hard.
"Because I do," I said. Professor Dumbledore frowned as he searched my face for any clue.
"I think you should get ready to go, Miss Montgomery," Professor Dumbledore said. "We will leave when you are ready." He abruptly stood up and left the room. I changed into my nicest dress, which I had finally gotten used to wearing all the time by now, and we soon left.
Diagon Alley looked similar to the one I had seen in my second life, but it was definitely from a different time period. Professor Dumbledore bought everything we needed except for a familiar.
By the time we returned to the orphanage, it was past dinner time, and if we missed dinner, we wouldn't get to eat until the next morning. So, Tom and I decided to eat the next morning, as the professor had fed us lunch in the Leaky Cauldron.
I decided to sneak into Tom's bedroom that night and sleep in his arms again, as I did occasionally, especially when feeling down.
"What's wrong, Alice?" Tom whispered when I crawled into his bed.
"I'm worried, Tom," I said. Tom wrapped his arms around me.
"Whatever for?" Tom asked.
"I've been to Hogwarts before," I said. They look down on people with Muggle last names, like you and me, especially the Slytherins. And I feel we're going to both be sorted there." Tom sighed.
"As long as we're together, we'll be fine," Tom said, "Remember that you can always count on me. I'll protect you, Alice." It was my turn to sigh.
"Tom, I don't need protection," I said, "I just need you to focus on what would make things easier for us. I don't want to be doubted any more than I already am." Tom moved my hair from in front of my face.
"You'll be fine, Alice," Tom said, "I promise." I didn't believe that, but I wanted it to be true.
As my intuition foretold, we were sorted into Slytherin upon our arrival at Hogwarts. Tom and I sat together, but the air was thick with the unspoken challenges that lay ahead.
"What are two mud bloods doing in our esteemed house?" someone commented. I sighed. It was already starting.
"Tom, I have a confession to make," I said, turning to him. "If I hadn't caused that explosion, we might never have become friends." Tom's gaze was intense as if he hadn't realized what I was trying to say.
"Why are you saying that so loudly, Alice?" Tom whispered.
"Because I'd rather be labeled a murderer than someone with little magic," I whispered back.
"What did that little hussy say?" someone asked, "Blew up a house?"
"There's no way. She's just a mud blood," someone else said.
"But why would she lie like that?" another person asked. Soon, the entire hall was murmuring with confusion. Tom raised his eyebrow.
"Quiet, please!" the headmaster shouted, "We have an announcement to make!" The entire hall quickly quieted down. "It seems that this year, we have a special guest joining us for some of our older classes' defense against the dark arts classes, Mr. Lance Dickson." I could feel the color drain from my face as I saw my former friend standing at the head table. He was much older now, but it had been a few decades since my death, so it made sense. Tom looked back at me and immediately hugged me when he saw my expression. He knew I was having a magic attack again, as this was the fifth time I had one since we met.
"It's okay, Alice." Tom said, "I'm here." I let out a breath and hugged him back.
"Thanks, Tom," I said, but before I could feel completely safe again, I heard footsteps approaching us. I didn't dare look up even when they stopped right behind Tom.
"What do you think you're doing?" a sharp voice asked. It was Lance's voice.
"I'm comforting my friend," Tom said, not letting go of me.
"Not you, boy. I was talking to the girl," Lance said.
"You reminded me of my father," I lied through my teeth, still not looking up at him.
"Why would you be pale?" Lance started but then thought about why it could've been like that. "I'm sorry. I assumed that you were... I guess I was wrong. There's no way Grayson would be a girl."
"Why did you..." I started but then thought better of it.
"What was that?" Lance asked, "Why did I what?"
"Why did you kill Grayson?" I muttered into Tom's shoulder before I could stop myself. Tom lifted his head and turned to Lance.
"Professor, please leave her alone," Tom said, "I'm struggling to nullify her magic right now. It's hard enough without you interfering."
"Alright, I'll leave her alone..." Lance said, "For now." He walked away, and Tom let go of my waist and put his hands on either side of my face to make me look into his eyes, which were filled with determination, while mine were filled with tears.
"I'll protect you, Alice," Tom said. Suddenly, the magic attack I was having was completely nullified.
"Those two are truly odd," someone said.
I wanted to stay with Tom when we got to the Slytherin common room.
"Boys' dorms are on the left. Girls' dorms are on the right," the prefect said. I was about to go to the boys' dorms when someone stopped me.
"Girls go to the right," an older girl said, "I know you want to be with your boyfriend, but you're a girl, so you can't."
"I forgot that I need to talk to him," I said, not even phased that she called him my boyfriend, "Can someone go grab him?"
"Can you go grab the other mud blood the first-year?" the older girl asked a boy.
"Why?" he asked.
"His girlfriend almost followed him into the boys' dorms to tell him something," the older girl said. The boy scoffed.
"What's a first-year doing with a girlfriend anyway?" he asked. "Well, whatever. I'll go get him." He entered the boys' dorm, and Tom came out a bit later, trying not to look flustered.
"What is it, Alice?" Tom asked when he realized that I had asked for him.
"That man today was one of the ones I told you about when we first met," I whispered.
"A friend that betrayed you?" Tom whispered back.
"Yes," I whispered.
"Why is he here?" Tom whispered.
"I think he knows that I've been reincarnated," I said, "But it doesn't make sense."
"It's time for curfew, little ones," a voice said, "Go to your respective dorms and go to sleep." Tom and I looked toward the voice to see a ghost, but neither cared.
"This is important," I said, "I can't go into his dorms, and he can't go into mine, so we have to discuss this here and now."
"I think that's a bad idea," the head of Slytherin house said. Please go to bed." I sighed.
"I guess we'll discuss this later," I said, "Good night, Tom." I kissed him on the cheek.
"Good night, Alice," Tom said, "I hope you can sleep without me."
"I'll cast a warming spell on myself and see if it's alright," I said. We separated, and I went to the first-year girls' dorm. I changed into a nightgown, slipped into bed, and used the warming spell. It didn't completely fix the problem, but I slept well.
That next morning, Tom looked like he had less sleep than I did, but the head of Slytherin's house, Professor Slughorn, looked like he hadn't slept as he approached Tom and me.
"After classes today, I need to speak with both of you, Mr. Riddle and Miss Montgomery," Professor Slughorn said, "I hope you won't do anything irresponsible before our meeting." Tom and I looked at each other, trying to understand his meaning.
"Let's just go get breakfast," Tom said, "We'll discuss the matter later." I nodded.
"It'll be hard to talk if we're being watched," I said, "But the more eyes on us, the easier it is for people to know to stay away." Tom chuckled.
"You do have a bit of darkness in you, Alice," Tom said, "But it's not as bad as you might think." I scoffed.
"If you think that, Tom," I said, "Go ahead, but I'm not going to live like I'm going to die any second anymore." Tom wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and we continued to walk to the great hall.
When we arrived, it was like the whole world stopped to stare at us, but it was probably just my imagination. Tom let go of me, and we sat at the table together. When the food appeared, Tom looked a little weary, like something was bothering him.
"What's wrong?" I asked. Tom looked at me, and in an instant, I was sent into a memory of my sixth reincarnation, where someone looked at me the exact way he was, but that boy was dying from wounds too deep to heal with just potions. I panicked and used the spell that only my soul could handle, 'the savior spell,' which heals any ailment or wound in a 200 km radius. It could even bring someone from the brink of death back to full health. I remembered the boy's name, Nakashima Satoshi, how deep and dark his eyes were, how his hair fell against his face, and the fear in his expression.
Suddenly, a bright light shined, and my eyes were forced shut. I could feel someone's arms wrap around me, but my mind didn't—or, more accurately, couldn't—recognize who was holding me.
"You're alright, Alice," a familiar voice whispered, "It's me." Suddenly, I was back in the great hall with Tom holding me. "You don't have to worry about anything."
"I have to go, Tom," I said, "I don't feel safe."
"I'm right here, Alice," Tom said, "You have me. You don't have to be scared." I felt tears go down my cheek.
"I couldn't save everyone," I said, "I'm sure he hates me for that." Tom pulled away slightly to look me in the eye.
"I would never hate you, Alice," Tom said, "So stop thinking about that man." Tom wiped my tears with his sleeves.
"Tom, stop," I said as I moved his hand away from my cheek, "I think I have to go talk to him. I have to find out what he wants. If I don't, I might as well consider the world over." Tom frowned and pulled his hand back.
"You're going to get yourself hurt, Alice," Tom said, "If that happens, what's going to happen to me? You said yourself that they don't like people like us." I sighed.
"Tom, would you become a fool for revenge if I die?" I asked. Tom looked at me with an empty expression, like the words he so eloquently uses had escaped him. Tom let go of me completely.
"Only if you want me to," Tom muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for me to hear it.
"Tomorrow," I said, "I'll see him tomorrow." Our timetables appeared, and Tom and I quickly ate breakfast. We went to class for the day, but it was rather boring.
When it was time for us to talk to Professor Slughorn, Tom seemed rather distant, but I understood that I had practically betrayed him this morning. We arrived at the Professor's office when the door suddenly opened. Lance ran out, and an angry Professor Slughorn came after him, but the Professor saw us and stopped.
"I apologize for the rude behavior, children," Professor Slughorn said, "That man is someone I could never get along with. You may come in." He guided us to two seats, where we sat down, and Professor Slughorn sat on the other side of the desk. "You know why I called you here, correct?"
"If it was the comment from last night, I think you're sorely mistaken, Professor," Tom said, "It's a running joke between us. We don't sleep together at the orphanage, but everyone thinks we do." Professor Slughorn looked a little confused.
"That's not why I called you here," Professor Slughorn said, "but it is a bit concerning. The matter that I wish to discuss is rather confidential, but it's regarding Miss Montgomery here. I believe you are suffering from magic attacks, correct?"
"Yes, Professor," I said, "I already had two since arriving, but I've had six before arriving. Tom here has been a great help with nullifying my attacks, but unfortunately, in the first attack, I ended up killing my entire family."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, dear," Professor Slughorn said, "May I ask when the attacks started?"
"When I was eight," I said.
"Do you know the reason why these attacks occur?" Professor Slughorn asked.
"I don't believe I do," I said, "I've never heard of them before."
"It's when the body has too much magic power inside of it for the body to handle," Professor Slughorn said, "But for you, something isn't quite the same as the other cases of it. In your case, it seems like something is hindering your use of the magic itself as if you were cursed. Do you know if anyone has ever used a binding spell on you?"
"My parents were muggles, and I rarely ever left the house," I said, "I don't know anyone who would do that to me."
"I see," Professor Slughorn said, "I'll have the medi-witch examine you during the weekend to see if there's anything she can do."