As they neared The Leaky Cauldron, Hagrid paused in front of the potions store where Harry had obtained his cauldron earlier ('not gold', Tom insisted and the green eyed boy had deflated). The giant pawed at the pockets of his tattered brown coat before settling on his breast pocket.

"Ye see, Dumbledore is expectin' ta see me soon. Let's get you in the inn, Harry-I don't know if I'm the right person ter tell ya all this, but those Dursley's weren't good for nothin'..." Hagrid sighed and shook his head before placing the tip of the pink umbrella he had been carrying by his side up against the brick wall that would return them to their room. With it being the day of send off for Hogwarts, the main bar area had become filled to the brim with witches, wizard, and various other creatures piled into chairs around tables. Unconsciously, Harry pulled the brim of the hat further down his forehead. Tom motioned them towards the stairs and Harry had to cough to hide a snicker when the stairs began to creak ominously under the giant of a man. They made it to the rooms they were renting undisturbed and if the stairs hadn't caused a sweat to break out over the older man, the prospect of telling his tale now had streams of perspiration running down his face.

Tom pulled Harry onto one of the bed's and waved his wand at one of the chairs. Right in front of Harry's eyes, the chair transformed from one meant to house an adult wizard to one large enough for Hagrid to comfortably sit. The man did so, but not after peering strangely at Tom.

"So, Dumbeldore's allowin' you magic outside ter school?"

Tom's face twisted into an expression that would have had Aunt Petunia grabbing Harry by the ear and throwing him into the cupboard for a week. Rude was the most pleasant way of describing it.

"Don't you worry, the doddering old fool didn't allow me out without restrictions. My wand is fully under control of dear Dumbeldore. Now if you would continue with Harry's parentage."

Hargrid looked as if he was about to leap to this Dumbledore's defence, however, at the reminder of his original task, the man began fumbling with his umbrella as a distraction.

"Well, it's best yeh know as much as I can tell yeh- mind, I can't tell yeh everythin', it's a great myst'ry, parts of it…." Although, he spoke to Harry, the giant's eyes gazed into the fire and he took on a quality as if he were years in the past.

"It begins, I suppose, with-with a group called…"

"What?" Harry leaned forward off the bed.

"Well- I don' like sayin' it if I can help it. No one does."

"Why not?"

"Gulpin' gargoyles, Harry, people are still , this is difficult. See, there were these wizards who went…bad. As bad as you could go. Worse. Worse than worse. There name was…They went by the name Death Eaters. Supposedly led by…."

"Could you write it down?" Harry began looking around for a piece of paper and a pen.

"Nah-can't spell it. All right- Lord Lacramb." Hagrid shook his head.

"Don't make me say it again. Anyway, this-these wizards, about twenty years ago now, wanted more power-needed more followers. Got 'em, too-many claimed after ter were under a Unforgivable, a dark curse, that made them do things they said they had no power over."

"These were dark days Harry. Know one knew who ter trust. They were takin' over. 'Course, some stood up to them-an' they killed 'em. Horribly. Hogwarts was the only safe places- I reckon Dumbledore was the only wizard the You-Know-Who were afraid of."

"Now yer mum an' dad were as good a witch an wizard as I ever knew. Head boy an' girl at Hogwarts in their day! Suppose the myst'ry is why the You-Know-Who never tried to get 'em on their side before…probably knew they they didn't want anythin' ter do with the Dark Side."

"Either way, all anyone knows is, they turned up in the village you was all living in, on Halloween ten years ago. You were just a year old. They came to yer house an'-an'."

The giant man pulled out a worn, spotted handkerchief and dabbed at his eyes and nose as he sputtered. Harry could only watch, as his mind worked to unfold the information he had just been given. Tom even remained silent as they waited for Hagrid to continue.

"Sorry,"he mumbled,"just so many good people all lost-anyway. The You-Know-Who killed 'em. An' then, the real mst'ry of it all-they tried to kill you too. Wanted to make a clean job of it I suppose, but that just left one of them dead." Hagrid leaned forward, "Barty Crouch Jr."

"Never wondered how you got that mark on yer forehead?" That was no ordinary cut. That's what yeh get when a powerful curse touches you-took care of yer mum an' dad an' yer house even-but not you. That's why yer famous Harry. No one has lived after the they got their hands on someone. No one except you."

Hagrid finally leaned back as he seemed to conclude his tale. The room was filled with silence as the youngest wizard frantically puzzled over everything.

After a few more minutes, Tom finally spoke.

"And it isn't understood how Harry survived this curse? And are these Death Eaters still at large?"

Hagrid flinched at Tom's blase word usage, but answered.

"Good question, Tom. All of them vanished-same night they tried to kill him. Makes yeh even more famous. The lord You-Know-Who was only heard about after in tester- trials for the You-Know-Who that were captured. Some say Barty Crouch Jr. was this lord. Codswallop, in my opinion. Knew the boy in school, an' he couldn't 've done the half of it without help."

"Something happened that night, Harry. No one knows what-but something about you stumped them, all right."

When Hagrid looked at Harry, the young boy was caught in a wave of respect and awe, as if Harry had accomplished something great. But he was just Harry. Harry, who cooked breakfast, scrubbed bathroom tile floors, trimmed the hedges, mowed the lawn-nothing as great as what was expected of him. He didn't even remember the faces of those who sacrificed themselves for him-his own parents. Nor did he even remember the night that supposedly made him famous. Only a bright green light, if that even belonged to that time. Had the Dursley's known this entire time? Surely they had, as they had been the ones to give him the reason to believe his parents died in a car crash after too many drinks at the pub- Harry's world spun. Something had always reached out to him from the depths of his mind that it was false, but for ten years, he had mostly assumed his parents had been reckless enough to drive with an infant in the car. Not only was that not the case, but that they had died to protect him from the 'Dark Side'? A torrent of emotions swirled in the young boy, and he was so immersed in them, that he did not hear Tom walk Hagrid to the door and assure him that they would be on the train to leave for school in time.

Tears began to well in emerald green eyes-Ollivander had said he had his mother's eyes- but they did not drop off his face. Long, thin fingers softly wiped away at the tears, reminding Harry he was not alone in the room.

"Oh Harry, I'm sorry that you are only now finding all of this out. The Dusley's should have never kept this hidden from you. But we will work together to uncover the rest of the story. You aren't alone in this."

The young boy turned to his friend and examined every detail he could. Tom had done nothing to betray Harry's trust, but memories of Dudley and his gang always stayed at the surface of his mind. There was no mischievous glint in Tom's eyes, as if he were going to run away with this knowledge and use it to taunt him. The boy's body wasn't ready to strike at Harry's moment of weakness. Instead, Riddle merely sat to his side, close enough the warmth from his body leached into Harry's side with his hand still holding the boy's face. Something broke in the young boy as he witnessed his first display of friendship.

Harry didn't know why, but he launched himself at the taller boy and wrapped his arms around the sunned boy as he worked to somehow get across to Riddle how much he appreciated his kind words. For a moment, he worried if he had overstepped as Riddle sat tense in his hold, but eventually, thin arms returned the gesture and encircled him as well.

The young boy had only just learned what magic was. He knew there was 'dark' magic and 'light' magic, magic that could make furniture bigger, or magic that could make things appear out of thin air, but this? Settled in Tom's arms, Harry began to wonder what other types of magic there was because, surely, this was something of its own.

—

Apparently, Tom had woken them up early enough in the morning to not only complete Harry's school shopping, but to also make it to the train that would take them to Hogwarts at eleven o'clock. Honestly, Potter had been so enraptured with Diagon Alley, he hadn't even noticed the sun still rested on the horizon when they began their day.

Platform 9 . Thank goodness Tom had been here, as the thought occurred to Harry that he may have spent so much time looking for it, he may have missed the train. The train station was full of muggles shuffling about with suitcase and other necessities for the travels and when they stop at the supposed 9 , Harry doesn't know how they aren't going to be seen.

Tom simply smirks at him as he positions the luggage cart with Harry's belongings a few feet in front of the brick wall. Hedwig, the owl Hagrid gifted to the younger wizard, hoots happily from her cage's spot at the front of the cart.

"The entrance is charmed for muggles to not notice our entrance. Now, simply follow what I do; just make a rush for the wall and you will walk through it to the Hogwarts Express." With one last look, the taller boy ran at the wall. Harry threw his hands over his eyes as he awaited the squeal Hedwig would inevitable make when they crashed into the wall. But none came.

And when Harry opened his eyes, the cart, Hedgwig, and Tom were gone. The wizarding world was such a puzzling place. He hears a family walking up behind him and a loud, dominating voice complaining about the abundance of muggles reminds Harry of what he needs to do. With a prayer that the injury isn't too severe, Harry runs towards the brick wall-

And finds himself face to face with a massive fiery red locomotive train. The breath is knocked out of the boy as his wide eyes work to take everything in, as they had earlier that day in Diagon Alley. Just the same as then, myriads of differently dressed witches and wizards shuffled down the length of the train. There were so many offshoot groups where parents stood with their children before they boarded the bus. Like Harry, they all had their own carts, with an owl, a cat looking creature, or in one instance a toad, placed with their belongings. Just by the short glance around Harry is able to give, he can see so many students his age and anxiety curled in his stomach. Tom was by his side with the cart and began guiding him to board the train. The corridors of the train are much the same as outside, with students clustered around each other as they gush about their summers. Tom found them an empty compartment which he ushered Harry in before closing the door behind them and placing the luggage on the rack above them. When the taller boy had taken his seat, the plain black robes matched Harry's own had transformed into a black robe with green fabric on the hood. Where Harry guessed was once the Hogwarts symbol, now held an emblem with a silver snake coiled on a green background. When Harry glanced at his own robes, he frowned as they remained the same black they were before.

"Now that we are on our way to Hogwarts, there is some information you need to know." Tom spoke simply as he crossed one leg over the other. The dark forest green of his cloak seemed to draw out his enchanting chocolate brown eyes. Harry shook his head of the thought and nodded.

"When Hogwarts was founded in the tenth century by four great individuals; Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryfindor, and Salazar Slytherin. Under these four founders, four houses would be created to exhibit their ideas in the school. Those who find themselves in Ravenclaw are enamored with knowledge and the importance of intellect; much like Miss Granger. The Hufflepuff house pulls in those that find loyalty and hard work the best means to an end. Gryffindor's value courage and bravery. Slytherin? Now, that house is for those that are destined for greatness. Instead of hoarding intellect for the sake of it, such as the Ravenclaws, Slytherins use their knowledge and cunning to climb to the top. Great and powerful wizards have come from the House of Snakes."

Of course, Tom would be in Slytherin. How was Harry to get in this house? He wasn't cunning, nor sought out power. Come to think of it, while he loved reading, he wouldn't say he actively sought knowledge. Courage and bravery? It certainly didn't feel like he was when he lived with the Dursley's. Loyalty, tho, this was something Harry could do. Wouldn't he already say he was loyal to Tom?

"It'll probably be Hufflepuff for me then. I don't see myself fitting in with any other house." Harry frowned. Would Tom still wish to be friends with him, if he was in a separate house.

A laugh broke Harry from his thoughts and Tom simply smiled at him.

"You will be in Slytherin-without a doubt."

Before Harry could question how Tom was convinced of that, a knock came from the door. The compartment door slid up and a boy with the most vibrant red hair Harry had ever seen peeked his head in.

"Anyone sitting there?" he asked, pointedly motioning to the seat next to Harry and not Tom. "The rest of the compartments are full."

Harry shook his head and the boy leapt to sit next to Harry. When Potter tried to speak to the new boy, he noticed his eyes swiftly moved to the window as if he had been staring at Harry.

"Hey, Ron!"

A pair of twins, that must have been related to the red haired boy as theirs was just the same, peeked into the compartment. Whatever the twins had planned to say disappeared, as two faces lit up in joy at the sight of Harry.

"Lookie here, how could we not introduce ourselves to the famous Harry Potter!" One of them spoke, "I'm Fred Weasley and this is George. That pint sized ginger is Ronald, our littlest brother."

"Well, see you later." Finished the other twin and they were off. It was only silent for a moment.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ronald rushed out.

Tom scoffed across from him.

"If you had properly introduced yourself when you first arrived, you wouldn't have to ask that, Ronald."

Ron finally looked over at the older boy and his face became red in anger.

"It's Ron, you slimy Slytherin. What are you doing hanging around Harry? Everyone knows all Slytherins are dark lords!"

Tom sneered as he opened his mouth to retort and Harry rushed forward.

"Look, this is Tom Riddle and he's my friend, so if you can't get over that I don't know what to tell you."

Harry was actually surprised by himself, that he had even managed to say those words. He had never said anything as rash before, but the younger boy didn't like that someone was going after his best friend.

Ron also seemed surprised by his words as he fell back in his seat and the blood drained from his face.

"Sorry," he mumbled, "Just wondering tho."

Ron awkwardly pointed at Harry's uncovered head. Seeing no harm in it, Harry pulled back his bangs for the scar to be revealed. Off to the side, Tom also leaned in to get a better look.

"Wicked," Ron breathed, "So that's where the You-Know-Who-?"

Harry shrugged, "Yes, but I can't remember it.

"Nothing?"

Ron seemed to notice he was staring and finally looked back outside the window. They had long passed the houses that ran along the line in London and were now in the countryside. To where, Harry did not know.

"So, are all your family wizards?" Tom hadn't spoken much of himself, only that he was also muggleborn (which Harry still needed clarification on), so Harry found himself wanting for more information on the wizarding world. The two conversed for some time, with Tom adding something here and there. When the trolley came by, Harry felt know guilt when he gave in to gluttonous temptation. Treats were rare in his life, and with the knowledge of a bountiful vault still at Gingotts, Harry bought everything off the cart when he saw young Weasley's small sandwhich. Ron could only stare dumbfoundedly in amazement when Harry offered the trade, before he dug in and Tom only laughed before grabbing something from the pile as well. It wasn't hard to gather from Ron's worn luggage and oversized clothing that he also came from hard upbringings. Not only did it seem to make his friends happy, but a warmth gathered in Harry's chest as he watched Ron devour a fair share of the goodies. Scabbers, Ron's rat, seemed to also find entertainment in it as he sniffed the various scents in the compartment.

Ron and Harry eventually found their way to the chocolate frogs and eagerly switched the cards with the moving portraits between themselves. Harry even got to see what one of his future professors, Albus Dumbledore, looked like. Ron supplied he taught Charms, whatever that class was. The two were so enamored with their goods they did not hear the soft cough that came from the compartment door.

"Hello, Hermione. Have you found a compartment?" Tom asked politely as the bushy haired girl moved to sit next to him. She was also dressed down in her Hogwarts robes. She nodded her head.

"Actually, I was helping a boy named Neville Longbottom search for his toad. But I imagine he's not here."

While the young boys had been destroying the pile of candy, Tom had pulled a book out to read which the girl eagerly twisted in her seat to see the title of.

"A History of Hogwarts? One of my favorites! I still need to get that book to you." Hermione haughtily looked down at the boys on the floor.

"And what are you two doing?"

Harry only offered her a chocolate frog as an answer while Ron snorted at her.

"Shoving my face full of good food instead of books."

Hermione gave a very Tom-like scoff as she took the proffered frog.

"You won't get far at Hogwarts if food is your only focus."

And with that she got up in a huff and left. Ron rolled his eyes and expressed that he needed to be in whatever house was opposite of hers. Talk about houses promptly ended there however, something of which Harry was grateful. Potter still did not see how he was going to be in the same house as Tom, but atleast he had a few friends now that would probably be in other houses. Tom advised Ron to switch into his robes, while Harry worked to spy a glimpse of Hogwarts outside the window. The night had descended over the valley they'de found themselves in, but Harry can see far away lights looking to float in mid air.

When the train finally came to a stop, Riddle grabbed his luggage and directed him where to go.

"I've already been sorted and will be at the Slytherin table with the other fifth years. You'll follow the other first years and can join me when you're sorted."

A wave of dread washed over Harry, but he worked himself to nod at the taller boy and show a strong face. Thankfully, Hagrid was awaiting him where the first years gathered.

"'Arry glad to see ya!"

Once all the first years seemed to be gathered around the giant, he began leading them down a winding path through the trees. Once they reached a bend in the trail, numerous gasps rang out at the sight of the school nestled above a great black lake. The moon hung overhead and cast a soft light across the school. It was a great castle on a cliff above the lake that seemed to expand way past where Harry could see. The floating lights the boy had seen before were now clear to be the windows of the castle. All in all, the sight was welcoming and inviting for a place Harry would now call home.

The first years gathered on boats that soon began moving themselves across the lake to a boathouse he could not see until they were almost up to it. When Harry stepped off with Ron, they were ushered up a long staircase that eventually took them to a large door. Hargrid knocked three times and the castle door swung open.

In front of them, stood the man Harry had seen on a card that had been with the chocolate frogs; Professor Dumbledore.

The man was tall with a long white beard and half-moon shaped glasses that resided under warm, twinkling, blue eyes.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take it from here." He spoke warmly. Albus moved and opened another door that led to a great hall. Surely, the Dursley's house could fit in it even. Before they reached another set of great doors, Dumbledore turned and spoke with the group.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. Before we begin our start-of-term banquet, Hogwarts holds a ceremony where all of you will be sorted into one of the four great houses that make up this school. As you spend more time within these walls, you will come to find your house as almost that of your family." He went on to speak about the four houses as well as the house points system and a house cup tournament. He gave them a few moments to prepare for the ceremony before opening the great doors and leading them into the hall.

Harry already knew he would never grow tired of the displays of magic. Above them, a sky stretched across the ceiling with a few clouds dotted here and there. Numerous candles floated throughout the air above four tables which held more students than Harry could even hope to count. Without thinking, his eyes quickly sought out the table flush with green and soon spotted Tom. The boy was already looking at him when Harry finally found him. Harry didn't stop the grin that spread over his face as a newfound nervousness found him. This was excitement for something Harry knew he would remember for the rest of his life.

The first years were all led to the front of the four tables, where a fifth stretched out before them. This must have been the teacher's seating, as many of the faces were much older than his fellow students. He didn't have any time to look over them as Dumledore began the ceremony.

Hermione was called up first, and to neither Ron or Harry's surprise, was sorted into Ravenclaw only a few seconds after the hat touched her head. The boy who lost his toad, Neville Longbottom, was called soon after, and to Ron and Harry's surprise, was sorted into Gryffindor. There was a delay in applause from the red and gold table as they also must have had their moment of confusion, but quickly shouts of triumph filled the hall as Neville ran to his table, hiding a smile behind his face. A blond haired boy, with a pale pointed face was called up and almost placed into Slytheirn as quickly as Hermione had been sorted. Draco Malfoy. He needed to remember his future housemate's name. When 'Potter, Harry' was called the great hall instantly stilled. All sounds of laughter or conversation stopped and when Harry turned to sit on the stool, he found every single gaze on him. He gulped as Dumbledore slowly placed the hat on his head.

"Hmm, very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a band mind either." The voice seemed to echo through his own mind.

"Are you the Sorting Hat?"

"Why, yes, young Potter." The Sorting Hat laughed, "Not a bad mind either. There's talent-and a nice thirst to prove yourself. How interesting…"

Harry didn't know if you could bargain with a magical object, but he might as well give it the effort.

"Slytherin."

"Oh, the house of snakes, is it? Yes, I see know what this is…you will find great power, Harry Potter. Better be…"

"Slytherin!"

When Harry removed the hat from his, he met Dumbledore's eyes as he returned it. The twinkle only seemed to have multiplied exponentially from when he had talked to the first years, and his smile spoke of something secretive that Harry desperately wanted to find the cause of. All thoughts of this dashed away, however, when he looked back out at the hall. Somehow it was worse now that every one wasn't staring at him, instead they huddled into their tables and hushed conversation quickly overtook everything.

"Harry Potter in Slytherin? You think he's just as bad?"

"There's no way a Potter would end up there."

The young boy felt his mouth dry as he stumbled his way through the remaining first years (Ron giving him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder). Finally, a lone set of claps seemed to break through the hall. Tom stood up from his place at the Slytherin table and ignored the whispers around him as he applauded the young boy that sullenly made his way over to the first year portion of the table. Before he could sit, Tom had grabbed his arm and steered him to sit next to Tom. Somehow, the silence at the Slytherin table was worse than the whispers around them and Tom, as always, knew what to do.

The older boy peered at their classmates around them and took in their blank expressions.

"Does no one here recognize how great of a moment it is that Harry Potter is not in Slytherin? A boy that killed one of the most dark powerful wizards as a mere child?"

Tom's clinical tone and precise words are what the Slytherins seem to need. They begin to turn to eachother and word seems to pass down the table. A young witch with bright blonde hair, similar to Malfoy's, is the first to address Tom.

"Riddle, was it? That's as mudlblood of a surname if I've ever heard one. But you are correct." The girl's steely eyes met Harry's as she held out her hand to him.

"Daphne Greengrass. Welcome to Slytherin, Potter. You'll regret it if you wrong our house."

While Harry didn't appreciate the threatening words (also add mudblood to the list of questions), he recognized the olive branch and shook her hand. The effect felt like magic as, as soon as they parted, the entire table erupted into applause.

"We have Potter! We have Potter!"

Tom gave Harry's shoulder an encouraging squeeze.