Chapter Text
Tom was standing at the foot of the red steam engine when a boy walked up to him. He reached out his hand confidently, a mental image of the business men he saw in London came to Tom’s mind.
“Good morning, my name’s Alphard black, you are?” He spoke in a posh accent and inclined his head in Tom's direction, now up close the tacky pin suit he wore somehow managed to look even more ridiculous then what the old man had worn when he visited him back at the orphanage.
He frowned back at him, half tempted to walk away, but Tom’s eyes trailed over the rich suit, neatly combed hair with not a single strand out of place and polished shoes. “Tom Riddle." He said begrudgingly and took hold of the boy's hand, his skin was smooth, and softer than the most expensive pillows at the orphanage.
Alphard smiled slightly, the slight sag of his shoulders the only other sign of relief. He nodded slowly, “a muggleborn, I presume?” He raised an inquisitive eyebrow in Tom’s direction but the words sounded more like a statement and less a question.
“Depends..” he replied, shifting uncomfortably under his scrutiny. He wished he wasn’t so ignorant of wizarding culture, the school books hadn’t had a section explaining it and Tom had been relying on coupons given by Hogwarts, buying any of the other books wasn’t possible.
“Half-blood?” He said it in a joking manner, eyes scanning him up and down.
Tom bristled, he might not know what the boy was talking about, but he knew that tone, had heard it a million times before, “if you’re just here to insult me, I think it’s for the best you leave.” His hands flew to his wand, which was secured in his pocket.
“My apologies.” The words were blunt as his steel grey eyes flew to Tom’s hand for a millisecond, when they looked back there was something akin to interest in them.
Tom felt like a zoo animal as Alphard walked even closer to him.
Alphard seemed to be waging some internal battle as stopped in front of Tom, when finally he picked up an object from his trolley, holding it out for him.
It was a radio. Well, a haggard one, a few buttons were missing and it was lined with a thick coat of grime.
“Do you know how to work it?” Despite the poor quality, Alphard was staring at it as if it was a price jewel in a museum.
Yes?…I know how t’use a radio.” Tom frowned, his eyebrows furrowed. The old man had told him that wizards and muggles were divided, but it was still jarring to realise that he was in a completely new world.
The taller boy’s head jerked slightly, he didn’t smile or relax, if anything he tensed even further. His eyes were full of hope, not that different from the expression the kids at the orphanage wore whenever someone visited. “Do you think you could teach me?” There was slight apprehension in his words.
Tom nodded, if only so the boy would step away from him.
As if a dam had been broken, Alphard grinned, “thank you, i owe you.”
“What?” That was new, Tom hadn’t expected to get much of anything, he wondered what exactly owe meant in this context.
“You can decide what you want, as long as it's within reason ofcourse.” He was tinkering with the radio in his hands again, an earnest tone in his voice, “just promise me one thing?”
“Yes?” He asked.
“Don’t tell this to anyone.” There was an odd look in his eyes as he looked up at Tom.
Tom paused, the radio had been old and not in the best condition. He had snuck it in, that much was now obvious. That was hardly his problem, “who could I even tell.”
“perfect.” Alphard looked up,a grin on his face, “come on then,”
Before entering the train however, Alphard took out his wand and pointed it at himself, his grey suit transforming into much more fitting-rich black robes. He looked back at him apologetically. “Wally would have a heart attack if she saw me wearing something muggle,” he chuckled awkwardly .
Tom blinked at the casual show of magic before shrugging, “the robes suit you better, though I hope this ‘Wally’ is okay with me?” Tom was wearing muggle clothes under his robes after all.
Alphard gave him a tight smile, “no, but she’ll get around, so will brax, I’m sure.”
He highly doubted that.
Tom’s plan for the train ride had been to spend the time alone, a luxury rarely found in the orphanage, where every hour was spent on chores or taking care of the other younger kids.
He knew that was a broken promise as soon as Alphard started talking to him while they walked through the train, he filtered out most of what Alphard said, mentally noting down however that Walburga was his sister in second year and Abraxas an old childhood friend of his.
They stopped in front of a compartment near the end of the train, all two pairs of eyes turning in their direction as they walked in.
The girl, who he figured was Walburga, sat at the corner, she looked like one of those kids you see in Christmas commercials, with rosy cheeks and perfectly combed hair.
The other-Abarax, was perhaps the best example of a rich kid he had ever seen, with his perfectly ironed clothes and slicked back hair.
They both were staring at him with poorly disguised disdain.
“You just had to go and get yourself a pet mud-blood didn’t you?” Said the blonde one, eying him as he sat down next to Alphard, who for his part only flinched slightly-wether that due to how close Tom sat next to him or what Abraxas had said remained a mystery.
Alphard seemed adverse to a person standing even an arms width from him.
“Please tell me the others didn’t see you,” the girl huffed in Alphard's direction.
“No one saw us, and he's helping me.” Alphard supplied, he seemed entirely unbothered by the complaints, quite a easy thing when none of the insults were thrown your way.
“Merlin-helping you? If you stole another one of those muggle devices atleast do me the favour of not using it in front of me,” Abraxas said, there was no hostility in his tone, if anything he seemed tired, like the matron when she scolded the boys for getting into another fight in the yard.
Alphard waved him off, “yes-yes, you and your prudence, where would we be without it.”
“It’s not-whatever, you what’s your name?” Abraxas snapped his fingers.
“Tom Riddle,” he said, unnerved, reaching out a hand to the boy who sat in front of him, who only sneered in response, staring at him as if his existence was a personal upfront.
“Your accent’s quite peculiar.” She spoke in an airy tone, her face scrunched up in confusion.
“It’s a Cockney accent.” He answered, even the richest kids in school knew that.
She narrowed her eyes, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Do all of your kind speak like that?”
“I could ask you the same question.” he hissed, glaring at her.
She jumped back slightly, a wary look on her face, as if he were a rabid dog, “my apologies,” she coughed lightly into her hand as she glanced over at Alphard, they seemed to be having some kind of silent conversation.
“It’s not that surprising.” Abraxas eyes slid over his rumpled shirt, loose tie and messy hair. “How some parents let their kids out like this is a mystery,”
“Brax, that’s-
Tom bit the inside of his mouth, “well I’m sure if they were here right now they’d have a lot to say of how I dress.” Alphard tensed next to him while Abarax looked as if he had bitten into a really sour lemon, in the corner of his eye he noted that Walburga seemed to be more amused than anything.
There was a pause.
Finally Abraxas broke the silence, “ sorry, I-wasn’t aware of your predicament.” He said it slowly, wincing at every word.
“Clearly.” He deadpanned.
Walburga lightly chuckled under her breath, he couldn’t help share her sentiment as he raised an inquisitive eyebrow in Abraxas's direction, a smirk tugging on his lips.
“Oh shut up you!” Any signs of decorum previously present were lost as he glared at her.
“She’s my sister, Malfoy.”
“And I’m your best friend? I don’t ever see you defending me.”
“I have never not seen you be the one to start the confrontation.”
Abarax huffed, a light pink hue dusting over his features as he looked over at him, eyes narrowed into slitless pupils, “riddle, what house are you going to?,”
He shrugged, “Slytherin,” he hadn’t paid the house system much mind, Tom knew what he was.
Abraxas huffed, as if Tom had something funny, his lips curling slightly as he said “our house hasn’t fallen on such hard times.”
Tom glared at him, as he mulled over what ‘ours’ meant, Abraxas was a first year like him, for a moment he considered not asking anything but they hardly thought much of his intelligence as it was, “ you’re all Slytherin?” He said tentatively.
Alphard looked up, an odd look in his eyes, as if Tom had asked what colour the sky was, finally he supplied, “our family have been in Slytherin for generations,”
Tom nodded, the book he had read hadn’t mentioned anything about family deciding houses, it made sense, he suppose, every kid with parents were always some replica of them.
The train started shortly after that and he learned rather quickly- that magical or not people loved hearing themselves speak. The silence he had promised himself was non-existent, at least Alphard and his sister were soft spoken, same could not be said for Abraxas, who seemed to demand attention.
It wasn’t helped by the topics they chose, his hatred for them increased every time they mentioned a new resort, or overseas trip they had gone to, if perhaps they gloated about who had the best vacation he would have been more lenient, instead they complained and moped about who had it worse.
The only somewhat enjoyable occupant was Bella- the wolf like creature he had previously seen Alphard carrying, she had come and sat on his lap after a few hours in the ride, purring loudly when he pet her.
Alphard tried including him in the conversations from time to time-which caused Abraxas to oscillate between mocking him and apologising, Walburga didn’t say much, she occasionally chimed in but mostly opted to ignore him instead, sometimes she’d glance in his direction, her face drawn in thought.
He was sitting in a small compartment surrounded by other kids his age engaged in conversations he was left out off, something quite familiar-yet it was the farthest thing from the dormitories he had spent his life in, maybe due to how they spoke and their general mannerism-more akin to the princes he read about in storybook, they looked like them too, he thought as sunlight fell on Abraxas's silver hair.
But as his breath hitched for the millionth time he knew the reason had less to do with them and more to do with their magic, it was at random moments as they spoke, one of them would pull out their wand and transform something, or perhaps light up the room with shows of magic.
Magic had been something to hide in the orphanage, something uncontrollable at first, and later when it had become a gift it was the happiest moments of his life, like when he has mended a toy figurine, he hadn't stopped after that, sometimes purposefully dropping shelves or breaking vases-only to fix them later.
Yet even after learning to use his magic, Tom's capabilities had only gone so far, he watched as Abraxas took out his wand, swirling it around aimlessly, tendrils of light floating around him, turning into various creatures, he leaned in slightly as a mirage of a giant snake was formed.
“Are you quite done?” Abraxas's airy voice broke him out of his musing, his green eyes seemingly scrutinizing Tom's very being.
“Let him have this, I doubt he’s seen an inch of magic in his life.” Walburga said in a dismissive tone, she hadn't looked up from the magazine in her lap.
“I'm not incapable of magic,” Tom snapped, glaring at her. Alphard, who had been playing with Bella-looked up, a frown on his face.
“Tom that's-”
“Prove it then,” Abraxas drawled, a cocky smile on his face.
Tom glared, a pit of anger settling in his stomach, he was many things, but weak wasn't one of them.
Mrs. Cole had called him a cold and strange kid, odd things always happening around him.
The rabbit. Body swinging from the rafts.
Benson’s erratic nightmares whenever he roomed with Tom.
The cave. Dennis wailing about ‘monsters’ and talking snakes.
So it perhaps shouldn't have been a surprise to him when Abraxas's robe caught fire, who shrieked in response, hands batting at the flame as he discarded his robe.
Yet he flinched back, panic settling into his body when the realisation struck.
He watched as the flame flickered and remembered what that old man had done, it had to be similar to that, had to be, after all the fire hadn’t spread and nor did Tom feel warm.
“It won't hurt,” Tom said, Walburga and Alphard who had both raised their wands-about to cast spells, hesitated slightly, they looked thoroughly unconvinced.
His magic was uncontrollable-erratic, yes but never to this extent.
“Do something about it then.” Abraxas’s hissed, he was standing in the far corner, a sneer on his face.
Tom gingerly picked up the robes, hoping that his inner turmoil didn’t surface onto his face as he pressed his hand into the fire, every inch of body screamed for him to move, yet all he felt was a light tickle as the fire graced his hand.
It felt entirely pleasant, and if he had a choice in the matter he wouldn’t have extinguished the flames, it was his creation after all but as it was he willed the flame to snuff out.
At once the robes were snatched from his hands by deft fingers, Abraxas huffing as he elegantly shrugged them on, his face pinched.
Tom remained blank outwardly as he mentally reared, in just a few moments he would be kicked out, his magic had always been unpredictable but never to this extent, he wondered if he should apologise. He had promised to turn a new leaf at Hogwarts
laughter, his head snapped in Alphard's direction, who had thrown his head back, his shoulders shaking as he laughed.
Perhaps noticing him staring, Alphard looked back at him, a giant grin on his handsome face, “definitely not a squib.” He said, his voice raspy.
“You're such an ass!” Abraxas threw a book in their general direction, and despite his words there was no heat in his voice.
“Such profanity,” Alphard clicked his tongue, a cheeky look on his face, “I might have to inform lord Cornelius, surely he would expect better of his spawn.”
Abraxas made a disgruntled noise.
Walburga hummed slightly, a small smirk on her features as she looked at him, “nice work,” erupting into eloquent giggles as Abraxas groaned, a look of faux betrayal on his face.
Tom looked around, he had expected disgust,fear-anger, instead there was a general sense of amusement.
His head whirled, this was normal for them.
Abraxas looked his way, “I’ll admit, that was an impressive feat, though there are better ways to show off your affinity for magic then setting people ablaze.”
Tom wondered what his reaction would be if he told Abraxas it was an accident, “sorry.” Tom said simply.
Abraxas frowned slightly, glancing over at Alphard who shrugged, he sighed looking over at him, “you have a lot to learn, especially if you plan to be a Slytherin.”
Tom wondered what separated Slytherin so much from the other houses.
The ride was far less turbulent after that, he still stayed quite but so did the others, slight chitter and chatter sometimes filling the void but the only constant noise was the pattering of Bella’s feet as she walked around, animals were rarely found of him (expect snakes) but she seemed to like him, her snout digging into his hand whenever he relinquished petting her to turn page in the book he taken from Alphard's carrier.
It seemed the promise of a silent train ride had been delivered after all, Abraxas had quieted down significantly, his nose buried in a story book, walburga was reading her magazines and Alphard was sketching out a dragon, face drawn in concentration.
So when the train came to a halt, it was off surprise to them all, tom hissed as the compartment lit up, the bright lights stinging his eye, next to him alphard stretched out lazily like a giant cat, abraxas blinked sleepily, his long hair sticking to his face and Walburga was groaning lightly.
They all quickly packed their supplies, leaving them in the compartment (Bella was stuffed in Alphard’s robe, an advantage of being so small) as the overhead voice had instructed.
Tom stepped out the of the train into the sea other students, frowning when out of nowhere Alphard grabbed onto his hand and dragged him even more into the crowd, “Wha-
“Avery.” Abarax supplied unhelpfully.
Tom stared back at him, “and that’s a problem?” He asked hesitantly.
“If he sees us with you, I’m never going to hear the end of it.”
Tom sniffed slightly, rude.
“First years! Over here, all first years please report to me.” Tom turned his head at the noise, in the far corner stood a tall man with poofy blonde hair and an unkempt beard, he wore a dark leather tunic, a few animal hides also lay on his person, and a small crowd had already formed around him.
“Come on,” Alphard said, about to walk towards the man when Walburga grabbed his hand, an anxious look in her eyes.
Tom watched as she gently ran a hand over his hair, an honest smile on her face, Alphard smiled back at her-his much wider. “Make our family proud, mon petit dragon,”
Something in Tom ached as he watched her give Alphard a kiss on the check, and ruffle Abraxas’s hair, who blushed. For a split second before walking off those eyes turned towards him, he wasn’t sure if he imagined it or not but he swore he saw her give him a slight nod of approval before walking off, Bella secured in her arms.
The walk to the Great Lake was shorter than Tom expected, the pavement under his feet Turned into cobble stone and then dirt before he realized, and not long after, all of them stood at the clearing, Higgory Oalf-the grounds keeper of Hogwarts, pointed animatedly to the boats docked on edge of the lake, instructing them all to to board four at a time.
“I’ll go find Lestrange," Abraxas announced, looking around the cluster of other kids.
Alphard tilted his head, “Want me to come with?”
“Merlin no, I doubt you can go a second without insulting Avery or Rosier.” With that Abraxas disappeared into the crowd, or well tried to, his silver hair made disappearing anywhere rather hard.
“Who’s Lestrange?” He asked, stepping onto the raft hesitantly, Alphard who had already sat down, looked up at him.
“Family friend, he’s…nice.” The words were carefully picked.
“Avery and Rosier?” Tom sat down next to him, trying his best to emulate Alphard's confidence.
Alphard scrunched his noise, "Annoying cunts, I’m already forced to socialise with them at every ball, rather not do it again.”
Abraxas slipped onto the boat right then, along with him came a short boy with dark red hair and fair features.
He sat down next to Abraxax, who was staring admonishingly at Alphard. Not that Alphard seemed particularly wounded by it as he simply smiled back at him.
The red head turned towards him, “Dimitri Lestrange,” he gave him a small measured smile, a curious look in his eye.
“Tom Riddle,” he nodded, inclining his head to the side-much like he’d seen Alphard do, judging by the look of approval in Dimitri's eyes before he turned back to Abraxas he had done something correct.
The red head didn't try to strike up conversation with him again, he was busy with Abraxas the whole ride, sometimes looking over at Alphard, who would nod back.
Not long after a heavy fog set over them, blocking his view of anything not in hand’s reach. The only source of light was Higgory's lantern. He had read about adhering charms in his textbooks, and supposed that must be the case with the boats, as they seemed to automatically follow higgory.
As they rowed even further, the fog cleared and he could make out the silhouettes of at least a Hundred boats all around him, milling around like ants. He could make out the outlines of Hogwarts, it cut an imposing figure, half covered with shadows and as they inched closer, Tom was overtaken by wonder, even Abraxas-who had visited many times before leaned forwards, eyes wide as he took in the sight.
It was huge. He knew that of course, the books had said Hogwarts was the biggest castle in all of the United Kingdom but to see it before his own eyes, his breath hitched as they came even closer. Back at wools the church had been the most imposing figure he had ever seen, compared to Hogwarts, it was nothing, a useless waste of a building barely hanging on.
It was more of a sprawling fortress if anything, the large stone towers and mosaic buildings were things of fantasy. If right then a dragon landed on top of the large tower to the right of the building he would think it most fitting.
Higgory’s shouts about watching their heads snapped him out of his reverie as a passage opened on the cliff face. One by one they all went through the tunnel, the lanterns lighting up around them, the flames were of various colours all flickering softly, illuminating the area with a soft glow.
They sailed along until they reached an underground harbour and as he stepped onto the port he reminded himself that he belonged here, not in wools, where afternoons were spent tutoring children and scrubbing floors, where the other kids feared him for his magic. No, this was his new home.
The rest of the walk to the great hall was a blur. Higgory had led them up a flight of marble stairs, where a kind looking witch had greeted them and explained the house system before ushering them in.
Which is how Tom was now standing among a group of children, all in various states of awe. The great hall lived up to its name, thousands of candles floated midair, their soft hue shedding light on the tables where the students sat, among them sat a dozen ghosts, all flickering.
He looked up, remembering how the book had said that the ceilings were enchanted to resemble the sky, the text had heavily undervalued it however. The ceiling was more marvellous than even the heavens, the stars shone bright, brighter than any light he had ever seen.
At wools, he often spent his nights laying near the window, watching as the sun disappeared behind the horizon and the moon rose and with it the stars, they were dim however, most invisible and the ones left graced him with their presence depending on the day.
The mural above him was nothing of the sort, the stars were vivid and beautiful, humming gently. The books had called Hogwarts a museum as much as it is a school, built millennium ago. He had kept his expectations low, disappointment was a feeling he was most friendly with but it truly did live up to the books and more.
He was broken out of reverie by the sound of glass clinging, there on the teachers table, on the grandest seat-more akin to a throne than a chair stood an old plum man, his hair long and tied in a neat braid, the headmaster.
“Now-all you children must be excited for this new year at Hogwarts! I for one couldn’t be more thrilled to see new young minds at my school, so without any further interventions-let the sorting ceremony begin," he cried out.
He recognise the old man that walked onto the podium as Dumbledore, he was wearing the same odd robes he had worn beforehand, there was a long piece of parchment paper floating in front of him and with a flick of his hand, a large ugly hat with a seam on the front and an old stool appeared at once.
“Now as soon as I call out your names, you are to sit on the stool and let the hat
decide” Dumbledore said. “Gregory, Prowel!”
A gangly boy with bushy hair walked forward, sitting down hesitantly on the stool. The hat was placed on his head gingerly. At once it perked up, the seams on the front ripping complete as it shouted out, “GRYFFINDOR!”
The table in red broke out in cheers as they welcomed their newest addition.
“Milcent, gold!”
“RAVENCLAW!” Yet again the house in blue applauded, thought more subdued.
“Euphmia, Potter!”
“GRYFFINDOR!” The girl ran down to the table in the far right, they all greeted her excitedly.
“Thaddeus, Nott!”
“SLYTHERIN!” The table in the far left was much more reserved, in deep contrast to the lions, he preferred them already.
One by one more and more students were sorted, ‘Lorenzo Rosier’ and ‘William Avery’ were both in Slytherin, ‘Augusta Longbottom’ went to Gryffindor, ‘Cordelia lovegood’ went to Ravenclaw, and so on.
“Alphard, Black!”
He looked over at Alphard, who was taking in deep breath, an exhilarated grin on his face, “see you in slytherin?” He said.
“Goodluck,” Tom replied, watching as an honest smile took over Alphard’s face, accentuating his dimples as he strolled over to Dumbledore.
The hat sat on his head for a few suspenseful moments before announcing, “SLYTHERIN!” The other students clapped. Walburga had quickly ushered him onto the middle of the table-next to where she sat.
Tom was hardly surprised, Alphard seemed to fit the criteria for slytherin perfectly, a gaggle of gryffindors broke into laughter, quickly chided by one of the ghosts. though he supposed red did suit him.
“Abraxas, Malfoy!”
Abraxas squeezed his hand, latching onto it like a lifeline. He was scared, Tom noted. His breath laboured as he walked over to Dumbledore, the slight nod of his head was the only reason Tom knew he hadn’t forgotten about him.
Abraxas sat down in faux confidence, the hat screeching out as soon as he did “SLYTHERIN!” The table to the far left clapped politely, none of them seemed particularly surprised, Abraxas’s boasting about being a true slytherin wasn’t done in falsehood-yet he almost shook with panic. Tom thought it rather odd.
The relief on his face was evident as he sat down on the bench, from across him Alphard grinned, which Abraxas returned with a shaky smile, it was quickly masked by a look of polite indifference as few of the other kids came to greet him.
More names were taken, Tom didn’t pay them much mind.
“Tom, Riddle!” Dumbledore called out.
It was his turn.
He hesitated for a moment before walking onto the stage.
Gryffindor. Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw. Slytherin.
A lion, badger, eagle or snake.
It was obvious to him which house he belonged to. Tom sat down on the wooden stool, the hat quickly placed on top of him.
Now, it's been so long since I met someone like you, the voice was crackly, as old sounding as the hat looked.
You know where to place me.
It laughed, an unpleasant noise. Yes, quite familiar.
“SLYTHERIN!”
For a split second there was silence, quickly masked by polite applause, done so swiftly one might believe they had imagined the quiet.
He mulled over what the hat might have meant as he walked over to the table. Tom noted the light muttering-no talking that surrounded him, he paid it no mind as he strolled leisurely to the center.
“Hello, Riddle.” Alphard was smiling up at him, as he waved him over. Lestrange, who previously had been sitting next to him shuffled over quickly, throwing Tom a guarded smile.
Internally, he basked in the fact that Alphard cared enough about him to break protocol; externally, he sat down as politely as he could, trying his best to mimic the other slytherins.
They gave him slight curious looks, but apparently Alphard’s seal of approval was enough for them.
“Well, it seems you’re a slytherin afterall,” Abraxas drawled, there was an odd look in his eyes as he inclined his head to the side.
“You were wrong again, Malfoy. Becoming a habit of yours,” Alphard replied for him, a grin on his face.
“Well, excuse me! I thought the boy who read three books about the wonders of mechanical transformation was going to be in raven claw,”
Tom frowned, “the book was interesting, and only one of them was about mechanical transformation,” he couldn’t fathom not liking a book, the small nook in the back of the orphanage were Mrs. Cole stacked the donation books was his safe haven after all.
“Merlin- remind me to never introduce you to Nott.”
Before he could respond Walburga titled her head in his direction, “congratulations, Riddle.” She smiled at him, far too cheery for his liking.
“thanks.” He half mumbled the words, frowning at her slightly.
Across from him Abraxas groaned before looking away, “piece of advice, Don't mutter.” He said, voice too light to be heard by anyone but him as he looked over at Tom.
Right then, as if only now noticing him, the girl who had been sitting next to Abraxas stared up at him, her eyes widening slightly, before smoothing into a blank yet polite expression.
Tom had noticed her getting sorted but hadn’t paid much mind to it.
He blinked in surprise, when she lent her hand his way, he grasped it hesitantly.
“Druellla Rosier,” she spoke in a thick German accent, voice soft as she gave him a smile, next to her abraxas stiffened slightly, his eyes glancing over her.
“Tom riddle,” he said. Her eyes flickered, a stew of emotions in them, most of all interest.
It faded away as soon as it appeared. “Pleasure to meet you, riddle.”
He smiled back, “pleasure.” The word felt awkward on his lips.
She nodded her head politely, tufts of blonde hair falling to her side before returning back to talk to the other girls who sat next to her. Abraxas was watching her with a wary expression, but other than that he remained quiet.
There was another chime of glass as the last student walked over to their respective house, the grandmaster had risen once more, “now let the feast commence,” he said, taping his hands lightly.
At once food and cutlery appeared onto the tables, the smell of roasted potatoes, ham, turkey, peas, corn and various other assortments of foods Tom couldn’t even begin to name assaulted his nose. He wanted nothing more than to dig his teeth into the food before it all vanished before his eyes.
Around him, everyone started piling up their plates, he hesitated as he watched them elegantly pick out the food.
“I’m aware that the food is not of best quality, however you must eat something," Abraxas said, mistaking his hesitance for distaste as he stared in dismay at Tom’s gauntness.
That was the better option, he rather Abraxas not know that Tom was entirely clueless on how to plate his food. He stared down at Abraxas's own plate which was lined with an assortment of peas, gravy, ham and potato.
He copied it, gently placing down the entree of food on his plate, he fumbled slightly with the ham, the golden cutlery felt out of place in his hands as he cut through the meat.
It was soft and pillowy, nothing like the chewy rubbery meat they served back in the orphanage.
He placed the honey glazed ham in his mouth, it was heavenly, the best food he had ever had, not much of a completion-the orphanage food consisted of watery soup and stale bread, the ham practically exploded in his mouth as he took large bites from the meat.
In the end he managed to not wolf down his entire plate, even if he finished quicker than everyone else.
The Slytherin were surprisingly quiet unlike the kids in the other houses who chatted constantly-similar to the orphanage- his own house talked, but it was done quietly and among themselves, you’d have to be right next to them to hear a word of what they were saying.
Dinner was all things considered a quiet affair after that. He spent most of his time trying out all the new foods, sometimes Alphard would recommend a specific dessert.