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“Riddle!” The sounds of rapid footsteps were getting closer.
“Riddle! You little monster get back here!” Tom turned sharply right into a dark alley, the wet pavement almost caused him to slip, but he steadied himself, and hid behind a garbage bin. He was breathing hard, his lungs about to give up. Tom heard the footsteps pass near the alley opening and stop. Holding his breath he tried to calm down.
“Did that little shite go in there?” a man’s voice said.
“Most likely, he was probably conceived in an alley as well, it was calling to him” Tom heard the two men laugh.
“Well go on Ed, get the bastard.”
“Me? Go in there and catch some kind of disease? No mate, you go!”
“Fine, you coward.” Tom’s heart began to beat hard, they were sure to find him. He didn’t want to go back to that damned orphanage. Sleeping in a room filled with no less than twenty children fed scraps, and beaten because he was different. Tom shut his eyes and wished for them to go away, the footsteps were getting closer, and he closed his eyes tighter Go away Go away he thought. He started to feel a light pressure in his head which slowly started to increase.
“I found you!” He was pulled up by his collar, the man from the orphanage dangling him in the air.
The pressure in Tom's head started to feel painful and he needed relief. He opened his eyes staring into the man’s.
“Go Away!” He screamed and as he did they were pushed apart by a force so strong the man hit the wall with a crack and slumped down. Tom got up from the floor and looked at the man. He wasn’t breathing. A drop of blood trailed down his face. Was he dead?
“Hey! What did you do?” Tom looked at the remaining orphanage worker. No, he thought. He would be blamed for this and sent to an even worse place. He closed his eyes again trying to focus on that force that helped him earlier. Make him forget. Make him forget. He felt it when the pressure left his body, it wasn’t as intense as before but was still noticeable. He looked at the other man as his eyes faded all white and then returned to normal. The man shook his head.
“Oi, little boy, are you ok?”
“Yes Sir,” Tom stood in front of the dead man to cover his body.
“Um, alright then,” the man said and turned to leave. Tom waited a few minutes to make sure everything was clear, he stole the dead man’s notes even though there wasn't much, anything would help, and Tom left the alley looking at all the buildings, he had no clue where to go.
He was lost.
He knew which way the orphanage was, and thought his best bet, was to get as far away from there as possible.
Tom wandered all night, his shoes wet from the damp pavement, his stomach ached in hunger, his eyes tired. He needed to sleep. But where? He looked around, an endless line of terraced houses to his right but to his left, at the end of the street, was a park with a small lake in the middle. He walked towards it, it was a decent-sized one, with trails leading through trees and around the lake. Benches for people to gather and have lunch. Tom’s stomach once again ached at that thought.
The orphanage took them to a park once, the other children stared wide-eyed at them all, their sorrowful expressions made him sick, he didn’t need pity from children. He remembered them leaving the playground as soon as they joined.
Shaking off that memory, Tom continued into the park looking for a place he could rest, at least for a little while. He found the section of the park where kids most liked to play, climbed up to the tops of the slides, and lay there curled up. He would rest for now, and at dawn, he would find food. It was cold and uncomfortable, but Tom was used to both those things. What he wasn’t used to was the quiet, which he never had, but he enjoyed it now that he had it, he fell asleep pretty quickly.
He woke, to the chatter of people around him. The sky was cloudy as usual, but at least it wasn’t raining. Tom got up and stretched, looking around at the now lively park. Families walking together, playing together, and eating together. He focused on the last family who sat at a picnic bench, it was a family of four, the mother was taking out sandwiches from her bag and passing them. Tom walked towards them, and while the mother was distracted he grabbed her sandwich and walked away.
Tom was not a novice at nicking items. He did it plenty of times at the orphanage, if he ever wanted anything he would simply take it.
He found a nice tree to sit by and eat his snack. The park had water fountains so he could quench his thirst, but he knew he would get hungry again so he walked around the park looking for more food he could acquire.
Next to the lake sat a family feeding the ducks. The father and mother sat on a bench, while their daughter generously spread the feed as far as she could into the lake. There were about fifty ducks surrounding the bushy-haired girl, they followed her every move as if she were their little avian queen. She smiled brightly, not a care in the world.
Tom hated her. No one should ever look that happy.
He approached their bench as the parents joined their daughter in her frivolous feeding attempt. While they were distracted, Tom went through the mother’s bag and found a bag of cut fruit and veggies, a small cup of yogurt, and a bottle of water. He grabbed them and started to walk away.
“Hey stop!” He felt his body freeze, his limbs listening to the command even though he wanted to keep moving; running even, since he was caught.
“Come back here,” the girl added. Now he wanted to run, but he still stood frozen. She now came to stand in front of him. Up close her hair had a mind of its own and was surrounding a face with narrowed brows and a pout on her lips. Was that supposed to be intimidating ? Her eyes were a dull brown and her teeth were too big for her mouth. Why couldn’t he bloody move?
She poked at his chest and as soon as he did he was able to move again.
“Are you stealing?” She crossed her arms over her chest. Tom didn’t know what to do. If he ran, would she stop him again? Deciding to try another approach, he took the snacks from his pockets and put his hands out to hers.
“I’m sorry, I was hungry and I didn’t have anything to eat.” She listened and her pouting face turned into a concerned one. She had a bleeding heart. Good , Tom thought, maybe he would get that snack back.
“Where are your parents?”
“I don’t have any.”
“You're an orphan?”
“Yes.”
“Is your orphanage near here?”
“No.”
“Why are you here then?”
“Ran away.”
“Why?”
“Why do you ask so many questions?”
“Just curious, I guess.”
“Obviously.”
“Are all orphans rude?”
“Another question, what a surprise?”
“Hermione,” Tom heard her mother call. The girl turned to her mother.
“Do you know this boy? Is he a friend?” Her mother said sweetly. He looked down ready to be told on.
“Yes. He is…this is…” the girl looked at him eyes wide.
“Tom… I’m Tom Riddle, ma’am.” He approached the mother, hand held out in greeting. She shook it and laughed.
“Oh, well hello Tom nice to meet you. Hermione doesn’t have many friends, so I’m really happy to meet such a nice one.” The girl, Hermione, rolled her eyes at her mother’s confession.
“I’m Jean, and this is my husband, Richard,” she pointed to the approaching man, who had his brows raised at his wife.
“This is Hermione’s friend, Tom.”
“Hello young man, nice to meet a friend of Hermione. She doesn’t have many.” Hermione loudly cleared her throat.
“We were about to go to the library,” Hermione told Tom. “Mum, can Tom join us?” She asked her mother.
“Sure! If his parents are ok with it.”
Hermione scrunched her face and looked at him. Her eyes looked distant, but also staring right into his, as if she was trying to solve a complicated equation, he saw when she had her answer, and gave him a wide smile.
“Don’t leave, give me a minute,” she told him and walked towards her parents and started talking to them in hushed tones.
“Hermione we can’t just…”
“Well why not he has none...”
“Hermione, this is a big decision…”
“We would have to go to the orphanage…”
More whispers. More looks his way. What was she telling them?
“He is also hungry. Can we at least bring him home to feed him properly...”
“Hermione.”
“Father.” Hermione gave him a stern look. Tom saw the father look at the mother who had the same look on her face as Hermione.
“Let’s take them to the library while we discuss this better with each other Richard.” Richard gave a slight nod to his wife.
Hermione approached Tom again.
She stuck out her hand.
“I’m Hermione Granger, by the way.” Her bright smile directed at him, her eyes were more of a dull chestnut brown up close. He grabbed her hand and shook it.
“Hello Hermione, I’m Tom Riddle.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione's parents were sitting at a table discussing something. She took him exploring in the library showing him her favorite sections, which happened to be every section. She wanted to know everything about everything she told him with her bright grin. He could appreciate that, he also wanted to know everything. While they were walking through the aisle, he stopped her, a question plaguing his mind the moment they met.
“How did you do that?” He asked her.
“Do what?” She said still scanning the shelved books.
“You made my body stop moving it was like…”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said quickly, too quickly, her body now tense.
Tom knew this feeling, being questioned about the unknown, he was often yelled at with these questions. Knew all about trying to hide the answers as well. He looked around and saw a boy reading a book.
“Look at that boy,” he told her. Tom focused and waved his hand at the boy, who swiftly tripped and fell to his knees. Hermione gasped. Grabbing Tom’s hand and putting it down.
“How did you do that?!”
“I’m guessing the same way you made me freeze,” he looked at her panicked stare.
“I don’t know how I did it, it just happens sometimes,” she bit her lip, “though I do know how to do one thing on command.” She looked around, then raised her hand towards the top shelf, a book slowly slipped out and glided to her hand.
Tom was shocked. He knew it. He knew she stopped him. How? Why could they both do these things?
“Is that all you could do?” He asked.
“Yes, what else would I need to do? Do you only know how to trip people? That seems cruel.”
“While usually, the people deserve it, I needed to show you something and that boy was unfortunately the only test subject.” Hermione shrugged her shoulders and turned from him.
“How was the orphanage,” she asked over her shoulder.
“Horrible, we never had enough to eat, we all slept in one huge hall, and I was constantly picked on till I learned how to defend myself.”
“Did your parents pass?” Tom didn’t know why he was answering all her questions. He was never this friendly. Maybe because she was a kindred spirit, she had the same abilities he did, maybe together they could learn what they were.
“My mother died after having me, and I never knew my father.” She continued to listen to him while he told her about the orphanage. He found himself relaxed as he conversed with her more than he ever had with anyone.
“Hermione, Tom, it’s time to go.” Tom started to feel anxious. He was sure they were taking him back to the orphanage now, at least he wouldn’t have to sleep outside anymore, not that the orphanage’s beds were any better. He felt a small hand intertwined with his. He never had his hand held before, it was warm. Now he could see Hermione up close; her eyes weren’t as dull as he had first thought.
They walked together to Hermione’s parents. Her mother looked at their intertwined hands, then met Tom's eyes.
“Are you hungry Tom? Would you like to have a proper lunch with us?” He felt a squeeze on his hand and turned to Hermione who was nodding enthusiastically.
“I would love that ma’am.” Hermione’s mom smiled and beckoned them to follow her so they could drive someplace to eat. Maybe? Tom had no clue, but he guessed them filling his belly before dropping him back off at the orphanage was kind enough.
The Granger's car slowed to a stop. They were in front of a two-story house with a front garden filled with rose bushes and a small olive tree. They all got out of the car and Tom followed.
This was their home.
“Welcome, Tom, Hermione will show you around while I make us some lunch.”
Hermione grabbed his hand again. He hadn’t decided if he hated the way she clawed his hand tight in hers, or if he liked the warmth it gave him. Someone wanted him, or at least wanted to show him something enough to claw at his hand for him to follow.
So he did.
She showed him their living room which was wide and homely looking, with a nice fireplace to warm the area. Then she showed him the dining room, the kitchen where they waved at her mom. She said they had their rooms upstairs, but they weren’t as exciting as what they had in the back garden. She opened the back door and walked him out, rose bushes lined the back garden and at the end was a large English oak, with a thick trunk, and sturdy branches that held a small little…
“Ta da, it’s my treehouse! Come, I’ll show you inside!”
Hermione pulled him toward the rope ladder hanging down the little house. He climbed up after her. It wasn’t as small as he thought, they were able to stand up in it and take a few paces around. It had a window looking into her home, the floor had a carpet that covered the entire area. One of the walls had three shelves, all filled with books, on the floor next to the shelves was some sort of sitting area, covered with soft cushioned pillows of different colors.
Hermione plopped down on the cushions and patted the spot next to her. He sat by her, his body tensed, why hadn’t they just taken him home? Why show him their house? Tom knew he was poor but he also knew not everyone could afford a house like theirs, let alone a back garden big enough to have a treehouse in it. They must be wealthy. He started to feel an ache in his stomach, a hatred festered in him at the display of their home, something he would never have. Poor little orphan boy, let's show him how the better half lives.
“Tom?” Her voice brought him out of his raging thoughts.
“Yes?”
“Do you read?”
“Yes, I can read Hermione.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that, I just meant do you like to read because I do and I just wanted to know if you wanted to read one of these books. I've already read them all at least three times…”
‘This girl is a rambler’ he thought.
“Hermione,” he interrupted her. She looked at him with her big chestnut-colored eyes. Sitting this close to her he also noticed the spatter of freckles on her nose and across her cheeks.
“Why I’m I here? Why taunt me with all this? Just to send me back to that suffocating orphanage. I would have rather you all left me at the park, I was doing fine on my own.”
“Tom, that’s not what we are doing. I … um … well I should have asked you this before but how would you like to stay with us?”
“What?”
“That’s what mum and dad are discussing. We want you to stay with us … only if you want … I don’t know if they will drop you back at the park if you refuse but..”
“Are you playing a trick on me? Laughing at the orphan boy?”
“Oh no! Tom, I would never do that! I’m being serious. Do you think I'm so cruel?” Her eyes narrowed at him and it was the first time her expression towards him changed from happy to stern, he swore her bushy hair flared up, much like a cat's when they were about to fight.
Her eyes had a fire in them, she was telling the truth. But, it could be just what she wanted, why would her parents want another mouth to feed? When couples came to the orphanage they always picked the babies or the toddlers. After five, your chances of getting adopted were slim, after ten, nonexistent, nobody wanted to deal with a prepubescent child who was practically a stranger. So yes, Hermione probably wanted him for her bleeding heart, or for the ability they both seemed to share. But that didn’t mean her parents wanted the same.
“Hermione! Tom!” He heard her mother call. He looked out the little window, she was beckoning them in. He unconsciously went to grab Hermione’s hand because it’s what she was constantly doing but she turned quickly with a huff. She was angry. Was what he said so offensive? He didn’t think so. She grew up privileged, shielded from the cruelty of the world.
He entered the house and headed to where the dining room was, he saw all of them sitting around the table. It was a small table perfect for them and one extra guest. Tom sat on the open seat. Mr. Granger across from him, Mrs. Granger to the left, and Hermione to the right. The plate in front of him had a tuna sandwich with some roasted vegetables on the side.
“Thank you,” Tom said and started to eat as did everyone else.
“You're welcome, Tom.” Mrs. Granger smiled at him; her smile was bright and warm; the lines in them indicated she did it often. He wondered if Hermione would have the same ones when she grew up. He looked at her as she chewed. Her brows were still furrowed. But when her eyes caught him she gave him a slight smile.
“Tom,” said Mr.Granger. Tom swallowed his last bite and looked at the man.
“Tom, how would you like to stay with us?” His throat tightened and dried. Hermione was telling the truth. Tom couldn’t believe it. They didn’t even know him. Children usually spent at least a couple weeks with couples who wanted to adopt them, to see if they had a connection with the child.
Three faces looked at him eagerly, he cleared his throat.
“You mean I don’t have to go back to the orphanage?”
“No,” Mrs. Granger softly grabbed his hand that was on the table.
“Tom, if you accept, you will live here with us and become a part of our family.” He swallowed again and looked at Hermione, she was back to her bright smile and gave him a small nod.
“Yes,” he said, eyes not leaving Hermione’s.
“Yes, I would like that very much,” he said looking at both adults.
“Ok great, next step, we have to go adopt you and collect your belongings from the orphanage.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the orphanage, Mrs.Cole was appalled that Tom was the child they chose. He could tell she wanted to say all the incidents that happened in which she thought Tom was involved. But, she also looked glad to be legally done with him. And if she did tell the Grangers about those incidents, they would probably think her mad because he never physically harmed anyone.
After all the paperwork was done Mrs.Cole told him to get his belongings from his locker. Hermione followed him without asking permission if she could, her small hand locking onto his. Tom was momentarily embarrassed to show her where he lived the past 10 years but knowing this was the last time he had to see these walls washed that feeling away.
“Oi, look who came crawling back,” he heard the annoying voice of Billy Stubbs. He was walking toward them with his cowardly minions flanking him.
“Oh, and you bought a little girlfriend!”
He looked at Hermione as her cheeks flushed, Billy was in front of them now blocking their path. He raised his hand grabbing one of Hermione’s curls.
“And what a pretty little thing she is,” Tom’s jaw tensed and his skin felt hot. He pulled Hermione roughly behind him.
“Don’t touch her,” his voice was cold, Billy’s minions took a step back. Billy stood his ground, he was a year older than Tom, and a foot taller, but Tom still glared at him.
“Stubbs touch her again, and you will have the same fate as that rabbit of yours.” Billy's face turned pale.
“C..come on Billy let’s leave, he isn’t worth the trouble,” the minions pulled Stubbs out of their way.
Tom collected his small box underneath his bed if that’s what you would call what he slept on. He notices Hermione’s grimace looking around. It was terrible the conditions they had to live in. But not anymore. He grabbed her hand to lead her out away from this suffocating hovel.
Her parents were waiting for them at the gate smiles wide, Mrs.Cole was also smirking glad to be rid of him. He looked back at Wools hoping he would never see it again.
He heard Billy and his boys harassing another little girl in the sideyard. Suddenly Billy slammed into the ground, the sound of bone cracking. Billy got up nose squirting blood.
“My fucking nose is broken” the boy cried.
Tom, shocked, turned to Hermione. She had a slight smile.
“I guess that does have its uses.” She winked at him.
Tom briefly wondered if he was already corrupting her or if she was just born with a vengeful soul. Either way, he smiled back at her, grabbed her hand, and left with her to their home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One year later
Tom and Hermione walked home from school together discussing their day. Having someone to confide in was difficult at first for him. He was only ever disappointed in people and their mundane thoughts. But she was different, her thirst for knowledge the same as his own. She would listen to him carefully, not because she thought him right but because she wanted to tell him the right way of thinking using his arguments against him. She would always give a small smirk after she was done proving her point, he would roll his eyes and continue his point. They hardly ever agreed on anything but the rare occasions when she would concede were his favorites.
During their school year, they were inseparable, often classmates would call them a couple, and try to tease them. They soon stopped after they mysteriously all fell ill after even light teasing. The teasing of them being a couple didn’t bother him, it didn't make sense to him because they were so young. He thought of Hermione as his other half, someone he could talk to for hours, and trust as he trusted himself. He often saw couples fighting and crying in all the films Hermione made him watch. That wasn’t them. No, the reason why he would use his ability to harm those classmates is because they would laugh at them, and he couldn’t have that.
He might have gone a little overboard when one nasty girl said Hermione’s hair looked like a crow's nest. Hermione had cried for hours in their treehouse about it. Tom didn’t like that. The girl was missing from school for a week, and when she came back all her hair was gone. And she was wearing a wig. Tom didn’t care.
All he knew was she never said a word about Hermione again.
They got to their home and walked in, Hermione’s parents greeted them. He knew they could also be considered his parents since they adopted him, but they still just felt like her parents. He also didn’t consider Hermione as a sister, she was… he didn’t know what she was to him.
“Hermione, Tom, how was school?” Jean greeted them.
“Fine,” they said in unison.
Jean cleared her throat. And outstretched her hand out to introduce someone. Tom followed her hand and was surprised he didn’t notice the man there right when he walked in. The man stood up and he was slightly taller than Richard. He had a white beard that almost reached his waist. He was wearing a ridiculous ensemble as if he was just coming from a Halloween party, but it was the beginning of summer. He had half-moon spectacles and a twinkle in his eye that Tom hated right away.
“Hello, Tom, Hermione, my name is Professor Dumbledore and I think we all have something to discuss.”
After the Professor left the family discussed what just happened, and Tom found himself in their treehouse still stunned by the news.
“A school for witchcraft and wizardry...” Hermione trailed off. “That's what we are, what we have been this whole time, a witch,” she pointed to herself, and then him “and a wizard.”
“It seems so,” said Tom.
“That’s so relieving, I thought we were the only ones. I'm glad we are not,” Hermione said to herself more than to him.
Tom had a completely different feeling; he hated that there were more of them. Why were they hiding? With magic, which was what their abilities were, why not make the world theirs, instead it was run by muggles , non-magic folk. It didn’t make sense to Tom. He killed a man with the force of his magic. It was unintentional, but he still did it. If he were able to control that power he would do it again. That power was overwhelming; he still remembers the blood leaking down the man’s face and the way he made the other forget who he was. Was that magic taught at Hogwarts? Tom doubted it.
“I’m excited, but also nervous,” Hermione sat across from him fidgeting with her hands.
“Why are you nervous?”
“What if they don’t like me? I’m assuming we are different, being born from muggles. They must be children who have magical parents. What if I don’t fit in.”
“And you think I will?” He scoffed.
“Tom, you hardly care what anyone thinks about you besides you are more skilled with magic than me. You will fit in perfectly. Also, you can talk to snakes and the Professor said that was rare.”
The Professor did say that was rare but from the look on the Professor's face, Tom didn’t think it was something to brag about, just another reason why he didn’t like the old man.
“Maybe, but he also said that there are different houses, and knowing how different we are we will likely be separated and that’s something I don’t like, I don’t want to be alone again, ” Tom confessed.
“Tom, you will not be alone, there will be hundreds of students.”
“You know what I mean.”
Hermione got up to pace around the room and walked to a vase that was filled with red roses they had gathered from the garden. She stroked the red velvet petals gently.
“I will get picked on if I’m away from you.”
Tom stood up to stand beside her.
“Hermione.” She looked at him, and he saw in her eyes she was trying to solve their dilemma. She grabbed his hand and lifted it, as she plucked a rose from the vase.
“Ouch!” she said as she pierced her finger on a thorn, blood dripping onto the dark green stem.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen but this should still work,” she placed the stem near his wrist, he was too curious as to what she was doing to move away from it.
“I, Hermione Jean Granger, promise that Tom Marvolo Riddle will never be alone again.” The rose then transformed in midair rounding his wrist and when it settled it was a threaded bracelet of red and green. He didn’t know if the red was from the petals or her blood. He felt a shiver run through him as it tied itself together.
He also grabbed a rose pressing his finger onto a thorn so the blood dripped on it, he felt that was an important part of what she just did. He lifted her hand and brought the rose near it as she did.
“I, Tom Marvolo Riddle, promise to always protect Hermione Jean Granger from whoever tries to harm her.” He felt it when the magic left his body into the rose that wrapped itself around Hermione’s wrist as it did for him. She gave him her bright smile.
“We will do it together then,” she held onto his hand.
Tom didn’t know what to expect when they would enter the magical world, but he did know that she would always be by his side and that was enough for him.